Tunisia Gets Crucial Win in Bujumbura

Due to what they are terming “technical difficulties”, neither ART nor TV7 showed the match so it will not be possible to do any real analysis here. However, after the giants of the continent were either defeated or held to draws, our win today looks even more positive than expected. I listened to the match on national radio like everyone else. I can’t even remember the last time I relied on the radio so extensively but the suspense was killing me. It is far more stressful as the announcer gets excited and you wait for the words “goal”, “hadaf”, or “bountou” that often don’t come!

In what is becoming somewhat of a tradition, La Presse got the starting lineup completely wrong. Lemerre opted for a 4-4-2 formation with these players:

————–Balbouli————–

Hammami—Jaidi—Felhi—Gharbi

——-Mnari——Nafkha———–

——–Belaid——–Ben Saada——

——-Ben Dhifallah——Jemaa——-

We started dominating from the very beginning of the match. Ghzel hit the post off a glancing header and there were at least five clear cut chances to score from various players who either missed the target or forced incredible saves from the Burundi keeper. When the half ended 0-0 I began to wonder whether this would end in disappointment. The second half started off kind of slow but things changed in the 60th minute when Youssef Mouihbi made his entry, replacing Tijani Belaid. Our constant pressure finally resulted in a the long awaited opening goal off a set piece with our captain, Radhi Jaidi, reminding us yet again of his formidable heading ability. Not a bad way to celebrate your 101th selection with the national team.

After that it was a waiting game in which we suffered through a nail biting end to the match with the referee apparently awarding imaginary free kicks to the Burundians right outside our area. Luckily, there was no Kasraoui in goal to ruin the result. The announcer heaped praise on Balbouli who is showing game after game that he has the steady hands that we can trust when the game is on the line.

We came through unscathed and gathered the all important three points. I kept listening long afterward to hear what the players and coaching staff had to say. The funniest/most depressing moment came when the correspondent saw Lemerre and said: “Monsieur Lemerre, it’s been a long time since we talked, do you have a few words for the Tunisian people?” You could hear Lemerre walking away saying “C’est Nabil qui va le donner” (It’s Nabil who’s gonna give it). What a jackass! As if saying two words about the victory is so much to ask!

Maaloul gave his account of the match and singled out Mouihbi, Ben Yahia, and Essifi for bringing about positive changes in the second half. He said he was sorry we didn’t get to watch this match because he was sure we would have been happy with how the team performed and the determination they showed.

The delegation will be back in Tunisia on Tuesday after a night in Belgium and will be able to enjoy a well deserved day off with their family’s and friends. We await Lemerre’s final day in Rades next weekend where we will face the same opponent. It will be a day of liberation and festivities. Hopefully a day where we gather another three points en route to qualification that we all expect.

If any highlights become available, I’ll embed them in this post. We can rest easy tonight guys, one more game and we’re free of Lemerre forever! Coelho we’re waiting for you…