Tunisia expects tough contest against Ghana

Tunisia are anticipating a tough quarter-final showdown against Ghana today at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations as both sides push a last-four place.

The Carthage Eagles last reached the semi-finals in 2004, when they hosted and won the tournament.


However, Sami Trabelsi coach of the Tunisian side says they need to curb the individual brilliance of the Black Stars to brighten their chances of going through when they clash in Franceville at 8:00pm local time (19:00GMT).


Trabelsi, who watched Ghana's last game against Guinea has picked Andre Ayew, Sulley Ali Muntari and Asamoah Gyan as the major threats to his team.


"Ghana have (Andre) Ayew, Muntari and Gyan. We have to be mindful of these players," warned Trabelsi.


"I know them very well as I know the other players in their squad. But I’m also sure that (Goran) Stevanovic, the coach of Ghana, also knows all my 23 players because today in football nothing is hidden.

"We play as a team, while they often rely on the brilliance of their individual players to make the difference for them."


He added: "Ghana boast of a very rich and proud tradition in football and we respect this, but Tunisia too have a pedigree.


"We therefore expect a keen contest on Sunday with both teams having an equal chance of advancing to the next stage of this competition.


"But we are ready for this match and we hope to make the people of Tunisia proud."


Tunisia were stopped in the quarter-finals of the 2006 and 2008 competitions by Nigeria and Cameroon respectively and failed to go past the first round at Angola 2010