Tunisia host Equatorial Guinea in dead rubber Afcon qualifier

by Bertin Basson

Saturday Mar 27, 2021. 10:00

Already qualified Tunisia and Equatorial Guinea will meet in what is effectively a dead rubber match at Stade Olympique de Rades on Sunday.

Kick-off is at 15h00 CAT.

Both nations have already booked their spot at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), with Equatorial Guinea having done so in dramatic fashion on Thursday. Emilio Nsue scored in second half stoppage-time to lead Nzalang Nacional to a 1-0 win over Tanzania as the hosts punched their ticket at the Taifa Stars’ expense.

2022 AFCON QUALIFIERS GROUP STANDINGS

It was the perfect start for Juan Micha Obiang who had only been unveiled as Equatorial Guinea’s new head coach earlier this week.

Libya also had their hopes of reaching the continental showpiece dashed ahead of the final round of group stage qualifiers, following a 5-2 loss to Tunisia on football’s return to Benghazi.

The Eagles of Carthage had already qualified for next year’s showpiece last year but now hold an unassailable lead atop Group J, heading into the final round of qualifiers.

Tunisia will be without right-back Mohamed Drager for Sunday’s match due to an accumulation of yellow cards but head coach Mondher Kebaier will be able to call upon Ferjani Sassi, who missed the match against Libya for the same reason.

A solitary strike from Wahbi Khazri led Tunisia to a 1-0 win in the reverse fixture hosted in Malabo in November 2019.

The top two nations in each group advance to the 24-team finals hosted in Cameroon next year.