We will be aggressive against Ghana -Tunisia

Franceville, Gabon, Feb 2, GNA- Tunisia Coach Samir Trabelsi has said they have fashioned out a plan to kick Ghana out of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, when they meet in the quarter finals on Sunday.

Ghana set up a meeting with the North African giants after topping Group D, with seven points last Wednesday, through a one all game with Guinea.

Tunisia whose fate was determined after losing by a lone goal to co-host Gabon, to finish second in Group C, are already convinced they will scale over favourites Ghana.

Trabelsi told GNA Sports in Franceville that “we know the quality of the Ghana team and we are ready for them. We will play aggressive football and be as efficient as possible to win”.

“We know to beat Ghana means we have to be realistic, play high quality football and show our good brand throughout.” The coach said.

The Coach says his charges will fare better against the Stars who are chasing a fifth Nations Cup glory after a three decade wait because he will welcome back most of his first team players who missed their game against Gabon due to card accumulation. “Most of the first team players will return in the Sunday’s game. I rested some of them because they had yellow cards and I didn't want to risk them because we had already qualified even before the game with Gabon.” He stated.

He said his charges are a bunch of talented individual who have learnt to refuse to give up with a semi final berth on their minds.

“The players are very motivated to reach the semi finals and we will have to beat Ghana before getting there. From the Gabon game, we have learnt the importance of never giving up and going forward, we will apply that.

“Though we have a lot of respect for Ghana because of the strength of their team, we have shown what we can do and no team is capable of intimidating us.” He noted.

Tunisia, winners of the 2004 competition the hosted have reached the finals eight heavily reliant on their clean work ethics and fine organisation on the pitch.

They defeated fellow North Africans, Morocco and debutante, Niger to come out of the group with Gabon who topped with nine points after beating all three.

By Veonica Commey, GNA correspondent in Gabon, courtesy Ministry of Youth and Sports