Preview : Gambia vs Tunisia - Africa Cup of Nations - Round 3

Gambia vs Tunisia

SCHEDULE	TIME
GAME	Gambia vs Tunisia
DATE	20/01/2022
TIME	14:00 PM (UTC)
VENUE	Limbe Stadium (Limbe)
LEAGUE	Africa Cup of Nations - Round 3

TV Channel Info

More Information

Streaming starts 5 minutes before kick off

Preview

◉ A last-gasp penalty in a 1-1 draw against Mali kept Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) debutants Gambia unbeaten in this edition (W1, D1) and joint-top of Group F ahead of matchday three. The 'Scorpions' are the lowest ranked of the 24 teams in this edition but have stung some more fancied teams, raising the prospects of qualification from the group stage even as one of the four top-ranked third-placed teams, although a draw guarantees a top-two place.

◉ Either way, it could be another tight game as eight of Gambia's last ten matches have produced under 2.5 goals. That lack of goals makes scoring first all the more important, with the last 14 matches involving Gambia seeing the team score first go on to avoid defeat.

◉ Lifting themselves from a bizarre and controversial group opening loss, Tunisia bounced back in style hammering Mauritania 4-0 to get their campaign back on track, but could be without up to 12 players for this game due to Covid cases in the squad. That’ll make their aim of finishing in the top two much harder - something the 'Eagles of Carthage' can achieve by winning this match - as they look to add to their six quarter-finals from their last eight AFCON appearances since their only continental title win back in 2004.

◉ Those expectations need a history-defying result as Tunisia have won just one of their last ten 'matchday three' group fixtures (W1, D7, L2). Any nerves can be calmed with an early lead though, as seven of Tunisia's last eight wins have seen them convert half-time leads into victories.

◉ Players to watch: Musa Barrow salvaged a point for Gambia last time around with a late penalty which meant his three goals in national colours have seen him score Gambia’s last of the game. The Covid-hit Tunisians will hope to see Seifeddine Jaziri on the scoreboard as his seven scoring games in national colours have all ended in wins.

◉ Hot stat: Eight of Tunisia’s last 11 matches have produced under 1.5 goals at half-time, with five standing goalless at the break.

Gambia starting lineup:

Jobe; Modou, Colley, Gomez, Touray; Adams, Bobb, Marreh, Jallow; Barrow, Ceesay

Tunisia starting lineup:

Said; Mathlouthi, Ifa, Talbi, Maaloul; Slimane, Skhiri, Chaalali; Mejbri; Khazri, Laidouni

Prediction

 Gambia 1-2 Tunisia

Given the stakes of the game, we expect a thrilling contest with both sides going all out for all three points. On the back of their dominant performance last time out, the Tunisians will head into the game in sky-high confidence and we are tipping them to come away with the win and confirm their place in the knockout stages.