Tunisia will welcome Botswana in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualification Group J match at the Stade Hammadi Agrebi on Thursday.
Kick-off is at 9pm CAT.
CURRENT FORM
The Carthage Eagles succumbed to a 1-0 defeat to Equatorial Guinea away on 17 June as they tasted their first defeat in Group J having recorded three wins and one draw before losing.
Having already qualified for the Afcon finals, Tunisia are placed second in the Group J standings – two points behind leaders Equatorial Guinea who will face Libya on 6 September.
Meanwhile, Botswana emerged as 1-0 winners over Libya at home on 17 June as they recorded their maiden win in Group J, having registered three defeats and one draw before the win.
The Zebras are placed third in the Group J standings – six points behind second-placed Tunisia and Botswana’s ambitions of qualifying for the Afcon finals have already faded away.
WHAT WAS SAID?
Tunisia head coach Jalel Kadri:
“There are two Fifa windows which are difficult to manage during the year. There is the June window which marks the end of the season and the September window which marks the start of a new cycle,” Kadri said on La Presse after announcing the squad that will face Botswana.
“Any national coach who prepares a list for the month of September takes three essential elements into account. First, there are the players who changed clubs during the summer transfer window and who, moreover, need a period of adaptation. In this sense, we have 12 internationals who changed clubs this summer.
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“The two factors that must be taken into account, are injuries and lack of playing time for some players. These three factors combined make the selection choices somewhat complicated.”
Botswana head coach Mogomotsi Mpote:
“We have boys who are ready to fight and all we need is your support back home,” Mpote told Botswana Football Association Media.
“We’ll use this game (Tunisia) to prepare for the 2025 African Cup of Nations and 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
“The result here will also help us in terms of the rankings.”
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Tunisia and Botswana have met seven times across all competitions.
The Carthage Eagles have the edge in this rivalry having registered three wins compared to the Zebras’ two victories and two games ended in a draw.
Their last meeting ended in a 0-0 draw in a 2023 Afcon qualifier played in Botswana in June 2022.