A Team in Transition Seeking to Regain its Prestige
The first match against Nigeria this afternoon is crucial in setting the tone. La Presse — Does the Tunisian team have the means to quickly regain its rank in Africa? For years, it has been sinking further and further into failure and poor performances, whether in the African championship or other competitions. The latest debacle at the Afrobasket in Angola sounded the alarm to salvage what's left and rebuild the team on solid foundations. The newly elected federal office has chosen to reunite with a former client of the team, Adel Tlatli, who returns with a clear mission: to rebuild the national team and help it regain its usual rank. This is no easy task, as times have changed. It's not just a matter of the coach or the means provided, but also a matter of the players, their abilities, and their value. It's also a question of management, infrastructure, and the entire environment. There are certain professional elements that remain valid, such as Abda or Marnaoui, the team's creator, but overall, the quality of the squad is not ideal. It will take a lot of heart, cunning in the game, defensive success, and sobriety in the final moments of the match to succeed. We will play three matches in this first window organized in Radès: the first this afternoon (5:00 PM) against Nigeria, then Rwanda on Saturday (5:00 PM), and finally against Guinea on Sunday (5:00 PM). This is the first window of the first round, and it's essential to leave a good impression and take the maximum number of points. The next windows will be played away from home for our team. We must take advantage of this meeting in front of our audience (even if the choice of venue and schedule is not favorable for this first match) to start on the right foot. The teammates of Lahiani play today against Nigeria, a major African team that will be weakened by certain absences. Everything is possible, but it depends largely on our players, our coach, and his staff. Will they have made up for lost time in a reduced preparation period?
