Tunisia vs Comoros: Africa Cup of Nations Qualifying Preview
As the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers heat up, Tunisia will be aiming to solidify their position at the top of Group A when they host Comoros at the Stade Olympique Hammadi Agrebi on Friday. With a chance to extend their lead to seven points, the Eagles of Carthage are in a strong position, while Comoros will be desperate to secure their first victory of the campaign.
Match Preview
Tunisia has made a promising start to their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign, boasting a perfect record thus far. Their latest outing saw them edge past Gambia with a 2-1 victory on September 9. After conceding an early goal from Ali Abdi, Tunisia rallied back with a quick equalizer from Ali Sowe, before Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane clinched the win with a decisive strike in the 75th minute. This victory followed a narrow 1-0 win over Madagascar, where Ferjani Sassi scored in stoppage time to secure all three points.
The Eagles of Carthage have rebounded well after a disappointing group-stage exit in the 2023 AFCON. Currently, they sit four points clear of Comoros in Group A, and their recent form—unbeaten in five matches across all competitions—has instilled confidence within the squad. Tunisia’s aspirations extend beyond the AFCON, as they also lead their World Cup qualifying group with 10 points from four matches.
In contrast, Comoros has struggled to find their footing in the qualifiers. Their last match ended in a 1-1 draw against Madagascar, following a similar stalemate with Gambia in their opening game. With only two draws to show for their efforts, Les Coelacantes are yet to secure a win in the qualifiers and have gone four matches without a victory across all competitions. Their last competitive outing saw them suffer a penalty shootout defeat to Mozambique in the COSAFA Cup.
Comoros’ only previous AFCON appearance came in 2021, where they reached the knockout stages but were eliminated by Cameroon. With their sights set on returning to the continental tournament, they will need to turn their fortunes around quickly.
Team News
Tunisia has named a robust 28-man squad for their October fixtures, featuring key players such as Bechir Ben Said, Ellyes Skhiri, and Hannibal Mejbri. New faces include Houssem Ben Ali, Bilel Ait Malek, Chiheb Jebali, and goalkeeper Sabri Ben Hessen, who could all make their senior debuts. Coach Faouzi Benzarti is expected to maintain a solid back four, with Abdi, Montassar Talbi, Yassine Meriah, and Raed Bouchniba likely to start. The attacking duo of Ali Youssef and Hamza Rafia will aim to capitalize on scoring opportunities.
On the other hand, Comoros has made some changes to their squad, with experienced midfielder Younn Zahary withdrawing due to injury. The 35-year-old M’Changama has also been dropped, while 21-year-old Yakine Said Mmadi has been called up. New additions Remy Vita and Naimoudine Assane will be looking to make an impact as they seek to break their winless streak. Coach Stefano Cusin will hope to find the right balance in his lineup to challenge the formidable Tunisian side.
Possible Lineups:
Tunisia:
- Goalkeeper: Memmiche
- Defenders: Abdi, Talbi, Meriah, Bouchniba
- Midfielders: Romdhane, Laidouni, Sassi, Ouanes
- Forwards: Youssef, Rafia
Comoros:
- Goalkeeper: Pandor
- Defenders: Abdallah, M’Dahoma, Omari, Bakari
- Midfielders: Ahmed, Lutin, Bourhane
- Forwards: Said, Maolida, Selemani
Prediction
As the match approaches, Tunisia will be favored to secure a comfortable victory against a struggling Comoros side. With their recent form and home advantage, we predict a 2-0 win for the Eagles of Carthage. While Comoros may put up a fight, Tunisia’s attacking prowess and solid defense should see them through to another crucial three points in their quest for AFCON qualification.
For further insights and data analysis on this match, visit Sports Mole.
As the excitement builds for this crucial encounter, fans will be eager to see if Tunisia can continue their winning streak and if Comoros can finally find their rhythm in the qualifiers.