Finishing in Style: Tunisia Aims to Conclude its World Cup 2026 Qualification Campaign Unbeaten
La Presse — After the resounding victory over Sao Tome and Principe, the Tunisian national team concludes its World Cup 2026 qualification campaign today. Having already secured qualification after the match against Equatorial Guinea, the team is determined to remain focused and motivated to finish on a high note and preserve its impressive statistics, including its unbeaten record and zero goals conceded. With no goals conceded so far, this is a promising indicator and a great motivator for the team as it looks ahead to future challenges where the competition will be fiercer. Today's match against Namibia has no bearing on the outcome, and the result will not change anything for coach Sami Trabelsi. However, on a personal level, he is eager to continue collecting victories.
This time, the opponent is more credible than the one faced on Friday. The same opponent had previously denied Tunisia a win with a 0-0 draw, which had cost Montassar Louhichi his place. There is a sense of revenge to be had, and for the players, this is an opportunity to leave a positive lasting impression. With the good atmosphere prevailing in the team and the successful integration of new players like Saad and Gharbi, it would be beneficial to secure three points and confirm the team's progress.
Rotation Expected
Sami Trabelsi will need to manage the abundance of talent in his squad effectively. With multiple options available for almost every position, the team's technical level is on the rise, thanks to the arrival of talented expatriate players. Today, we can expect the return of key players like Laidouni, Ferjani Sassi, or Hannibal Mejbri, all of whom could start.
In defense, Dahmen is likely to retain his place in goal, although Ben Said may have a chance to start. In the central defense, Ghram or Bronn may replace Meriah, while in attack, the options are open for the national team coach. Mastouri is expected to start in place of Chaouat, and on the wings, Saâd, Ltaief, Sliti, and Belarbi all have an equal chance of starting.
What matters more than the individual names is how the team's game will be constructed, the quality of the individual players, the understanding between the lines, the positioning, and the management of set pieces. What awaits the national team in the Arab Cup and the African Cup of Nations will undoubtedly be more challenging than today's match. The team must progress as much as possible and preserve this positive atmosphere.
With a squad that is more or less evenly matched, managing the players' mental states and knowing how to rotate the squad while maintaining the motivation of all players, both those who play regularly and those who play less, is the absolute priority for Sami Trabelsi going forward.
