BONGOVILLE, Gabon: Tunisia are set to start Evian striker Sabeur Khalifa ahead of more established strikers Issam Jemaa and Sami Allagui in today's Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final against Ghana.
Jemaa has been capped more than 50 times by his country and was the team's top scorer in the qualifiers for this tournament with five goals, while Allagui, an international since 2008, features for German Bundesliga side Mainz.
A top team official disclosed that coach Sami Trabelsi will settle for Khalifa to lead the attack in a 4-3-2-1 formation he hopes will beat one of the pre-tournament favourites.
Former Esperance of Tunis forward Khalifa, who made his Tunisia bow in 2010, has made tremendous improvements since his transfer last year to French Ligue 1 outfit Evian and has already scored once at this Nations Cup.
Esperance forward Youssef Msakni has fully recovered from an ankle injury from the Gabon game and officials said he will start today after scoring twice so far in the competition.
He will play alongside Zouhaier Dhaouadi from Club African of Tunis behind Khalifa.
Skipper Karim Haggui, who was not risked against Gabon due to a booking, will return to partner Aymen Abdennour in the heart of the back four.
The only doubt for the Carthage Eagles is Rostov of Russia defender Anis Boussaidi.
"The player has a groin problem and has not trained with the rest of the squad since the match against Gabon," said team doctor Faisal Khachnaoui.
The 30-year-old Boussaidi started his team's final group game against co-hosts Gabon in Franceville. It was his first appearance in the competition.
However, Tunisia are not expected to be overly concerned by his absence as he is not a regular first teamer. Tunisia likely starting XI vs Ghana: Aymen Mathlouthi, Bilel Ifa, Khalil Chammem, Karim Haggui, Aymen Abdennour, Jamel Saihi, Mejdi Traoui, Houcine Ragued, Zouhaier Dhaouadi, Youssef Msakni, Sabeur Khalifa.
