Izuchukwu Okosi
Tunisia’s head coach Mondher Kebaier, influential forward Wahbi Khazri and 11 other players of the Carthage Eagles will not be part of the team to face Nigeria in Sunday’s round-of -6 clash at the Roumde Adjia stadium in Garoua as they have all tested positive for Coronavirus.
Kebaier was absent during the pre-match press conference on Saturday at the media centre of the Roumdje Adjia Stadium, Garoua. Jalal Al-Qadri, the Tunisia’s assistant coach, addressed journalists during the press conference.
Meanwhile goalkeeper Farouk Ben Mustapha is suspended from the game.
The other eleven players confirmed to be unavailable for the game are Aissa Laidouni, Dylan Bronn, Ghaylène Chaalali, Ellyes Skhiri, Anis Ben Slimane, Mohamed Romdhane, Ali Maâloul, Ben Hmida, Aymen Dahmen Yoann Touzgha and Issam Jebali.
Tunisia qualified for the round of 16 after finishing as one of the four best losers in the group stage.
They won their second game of the tournament 4-0 against Mauritania but lost their remaining two matches albeit the first defeat, a 1-0 loss to Mali, was marred by controversial refereeing decisions.
The Carthage Eagles last met the Nigerian side during the third-place game at the 2019 AFCON in Cairo, Egypt which the Eagles won.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
