Haggui hopes for Tunisia success at Nations Cup

Former Tunisian international Karim Haggui says he is hopeful that the current Carthage Eagles team will triumph at the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.

The 37-year-old Haggui, who amassed over 70 caps for Tunisia between 2003 and 2013, was part of the national team which won the 2004 AFCON on home soil – the North African nation’s first and thus far only continental title.

Tunisia remains a great football nation,” the former defender told CAF.

“Clubs are still present in African competitions. There may be less success but in terms of [the] national team, we have a very good team. We are well placed in the FIFA rankings and we are also in a good position to go to the next World Cup.”

Tunisia will come up against Mali, Mauritania and Gambia in their group, with Haggui backing the team to advance into the knockout rounds and compete for a second Nations Cup title.

“We have a young group with a few experienced players,” he explained. “The group has been able to renew itself well. We don’t have a star who can win games, but a team that gets along well.

“So Tunisia can win against any team. In 2019, we failed in the semifinals. Now we want to glean this second African trophy and that’s why we are going to Cameroon.”

The Carthage Eagles recently finished as runners-up at the FIFA Arab Cup in Qatar, losing to fellow North Africans Algeria in the final. Haggui believes their campaign in Qatar was the perfect tune-up for the AFCON.

“It was a great preparation for everyone. And I think we behaved well. I imagine the staff saw the potential and the players they can go to fight with at AFCON.”

Tunisia will open their campaign in Cameroon with a Group F clash against Mali in Limbe on January 12. – africanfootball.com