Tunisia's National Football Team Plays Its Last Card in the Arab Cup
The Tunisian national football team will play its last card in the race for the second qualifying spot for the quarterfinals of the 2025 Arab Cup. They will face their Qatari counterparts, the host country of the tournament, tomorrow Sunday at 6:00 PM local time at the Al Bayt Stadium, as part of the third and final day of Group A.
A Difficult Position
The team, led by coach Sami Trabelsi, has put itself in a difficult position after losing (1-0) to Syria in the first day and drawing (2-2) with Palestine in the second, which has reduced their chances of reaching the quarterfinals. Their qualifying fate no longer depends solely on a win over Qatar, but is also conditioned by a misstep by Palestine against Syria, according to subsequent calculations related to the goal difference.
Disappointing Performance
The performance of the national players in the first two matches has not been up to the expectations of Tunisian fans, who have made the event in Doha with their massive and remarkable presence. The players' game has been marked by great instability, and they have lacked the fighting spirit that gives the team its true weight. The technical staff must remedy this shortcoming, readjust the game mechanisms, both at the defensive system level and the offensive animation, and present a more organized and tactically rigorous match to ensure victory and maintain a glimmer of hope for qualification, pending the outcome of the other match between Syria and Palestine, which would be content with a draw to ensure their qualification together.
Expected Adjustments
The expected adjustments will have to include, on the defensive level, an improvement in positioning and a tightening of spaces in coordination with the recovering midfielders Ferjani Sassi and Houssem Tka. It will also be necessary to improve the way set pieces and crosses are managed, clear shortcomings that have been visible in the last two meetings, which have led goalkeeper Aymen Dahmane to concede three goals.
Offensive Animation
Regarding the offensive animation, the Tunisian team, finalist of the last edition, must show greater fluidity in building the game. This is a task that rests mainly on Ismaïl Gharbi and, to a lesser extent, on Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane or Chiheb Jbeli, to supply the attacking line with balls capable of creating danger and concretizing scoring opportunities.
Important Cards to Play
Seifeddine Jaziri could be an important card to use in support of Firas Chaouat in attack, especially since the latter has suffered from a lack of supply in the previous two matches, which has limited his presence in the opponent's defensive zones.
A Difficult and Open Match
The match promises to be both open and difficult, as the Qatari team is in a similar situation. They too must imperatively win, hoping for a victory by Palestine over Syria to avoid elimination. Based on this observation, the "Annabi" (Qatar's nickname) and the "Eagles of Carthage" should adopt an offensive strategy from the initial whistle.
A Test of Balance
This will be a true test of their ability to balance the desire to score and maintain defensive solidity, all under the intense psychological pressure imposed by the fear of leaving the competition prematurely, while the ambitions were great to bet on the title and win the $7 million prize that will go to the champion.
Saving Face and Restoring Prestige
In any case, and regardless of the outcome in terms of qualification for the quarterfinals, the Tunisian team is called upon to win to save face and restore part of its prestige. This will also help to boost morale before focusing on the most important deadline: the African Nations Cup, scheduled to take place in Morocco from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026, with the return of other professional players playing in European championships.
