Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
Tunisia
On paper, Tunisia would probably be Nigeria;s biggest threat, but off course, in football, nothing counts until the final whistle.
Anyone would been forgiven for thinking along those lines considering Tunisia are a powerhouse in African football.
As the case is, the Africa Nations Championship, a tournament for players playing their trade in their domestic leagues, Tunisia come with a huge pedigree considering their exploits in the CAF Champions League and the Confederations Cup.
The likes of Esperance de Tunis, CS Sfaxien and Etoile de Sahel have been a recurring decimal in the group stages of the two prestigious Africa club competitions.
This testament means Tunisia has a very strong and competitive league which will throw up a stiff opposition for Nigeria.
For added measure, it would be imperative to add that Tunisia is home to a host of Nigerian players, who circumstances permitting would have been part of Sunday Oliseh’s squad to the 4th Africa Nations Championship.
CS Sfaxien’s Kingsley Sokari trained with Oliseh’s squad for at a point and so did Emem Edouk who was an integral member of the home based team before crossing North-side.
Other Nigerians who play in the Tunisian Ligue 1 include former Flying Eagles star Bernard Bulbwa at Esperance and U23 international Junior Ajayi at CS Sfaxien.
The Carthage Eagles[below] are led by French coach Henri Kasperczack who is a known quantity on the African continent and he will lead a band of exciting players hoping to win the tournament for the second time after their 2011 success.
The preparation for the tournament was rocked when news emerged on Friday that exciting attacking midfielder Hamza Lahmar will not play any part in the tournament.
The Etoile du Sahel midfielder underwent tests after an injury scare and he now will face up to a month on the sidelines. He will be replaced by team-mate Marouane Tej in a very talented Tunisian team.
Experience goalkeeper Rami Jeridi will be between the sticks for the Carthage Eagles. The CS Sfaxien goalkeeper has played across the major Tunisian team and usually deputises for first choice goalkeeper Ayman Mathlouti who is out injured.
He has fantastic reflexes and as come up big for CS Sfaxien on the continent and will look to transfer that form to the 2016 CHAN tournament.
Tunisia have quality in the middle and upfront which are the danger areas the Super Eagles have to neutralise.
Iheb Msakni, the attacking midfielder from Etoile du Sahel is the main man in the middle for Henri Kasperczak’s side.
He is comfortable just behind the main striker or as the creative force in the middle. Msakni’s work rate for club and country has made him a fan favourite and will be one the first on the starting sheet for Tunisia.
Tunisia will have 26 year old Ahmed Akaichi in attack to get the goals that will propel them towards the title.
The Etoile du Sahel striker made his Tunisia début in 2010 and has five goals from 12 caps since then.
Akaichi had a stint with German side FC Ingolstadt in 2013 but has since made a move to Etoile du Sahel via Esperance.
His experience will come to bear in Rwanda when the North Africans mount their challenge for the trophy.
The Carthage Eagles are surely one of the contenders for the 2016 Africa Nations Championship.