Unbeaten Tunisia can take another step towards World Cup 2026 qualification when they host Malawi in a Group H meeting at 7 November Stadium on Monday.
The North Africans lead second-placed Namibia by two points at the halfway point, and the Eagles of Carthage look to claim their fifth victory in six matches at the expense of the Flames.
Match preview
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Despite struggling in Africa Cup of Nations qualifying, where they ended second in a group that included Comoros, The Gambia, and Madagascar, Tunisia have been clinical and watertight at both ends in their quest for global finals participation.
Sami Trabelsi, back in the managerial dugout for a second spell following his February appointment, enjoyed a 1-0 success against Liberia in his first match back, keeping the North African side at the top of Group H.
This success, the Eagles of Carthage’s fourth in five matches, continued the nation’s run of games without conceding, and they aim to prevent the Flames from mounting a significant threat in Monday’s encounter.
By defeating Liberia on Thursday, the Eagles of Carthage extended their unbeaten run in World Cup qualifying to eight matches since a 1-0 defeat in Equatorial Guinea in November 2021, a sequence that has seen seven consecutive shutouts.
Recognising their defensive strength, the North African nation hope to record an eighth consecutive clean sheet to potentially extend their two-point lead at the top of Group H.
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Kalisto Pasuwa‘s men suffered consecutive 1-0 defeats to Namibia at home, following their loss to Equatorial Guinea in June 2024.
Having started qualifying with two wins from three, but losing the reverse fixture to Monday’s opponents in Lilongwe, the Flames had an outside chance of reaching the global tournament for the first time.
However, they now sit seven points behind the Group H-leading Eagles of Carthage as they head into the sixth round of fixtures, a gap that could extend to 10 if they fall in Tunis.
The precedent is unfavourable for the away side, who have faced defeats in two of their last three recorded visits to face the North Africans, including a staggering 7-0 loss in March 2005.
While the Flames avoided defeat on their last visit to Tunis, playing out a 2-2 draw in AFCON qualifying in September 2010, a similar outcome would be welcomed by Pasuwa’S side, who aim to be the team that breaks the Eagles’ defensive hold.
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Team News
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Despite scoring in victories over Sao Tome and Malawi, contributing the only goal in the reverse fixture, Youssef Msakni is not part of the Tunisia squad for March’s internationals, meaning the North African side must find other ways to secure victory.
Hazem Mestouri netted after four minutes to seal a narrow victory over Liberia on Thursday, and the forward aims to join Msakni as the only Eagles of Carthage player to have scored more than once in qualifying.
Although Hannibal Mejbri possesses those match-winning qualities, the Burnley player has yet to register a goal for Tunisia after 31 appearances, a situation he aims to rectify on Monday.
The away side will be without Chifundo Mphasi, the match-winner against Liberia in round one and a scorer and assister in the 3-1 success over Sao Tome, leaving the Flames without a player who has been involved in three of their four goals in qualifying.
Chawanangwa Kaonga, another scorer in the triumph over Sao Tome, could lead the Flames’ attack in Tunis, while Lanjesi Nkhoma might be set for a wide attacking role in Pasuwa’s starting XI.
Tunisia possible starting lineup:
Dahmen; Ghorbel, Bronn, Talbi, Abdi; Ltaief, Laidouni, Slimane; Hannibal; Mestouri, Sliti
Malawi possible starting lineup:
Thole; Chirwa, Petro, Chembezi, Lungu; Mwaungulu, Singo, Aaron, Nkhoma; Kanoga, Mhango
We say: Tunisia 2-0 Malawi
Malawi have failed to score in consecutive matches in World Cup qualifying, while Tunisia have not conceded in seven of their last eight such fixtures.
The North African hosts should secure maximum points in round six’s contest to continue their unbeaten run in this series and possibly extend their two-point advantage over Namibia, who host Equatorial Guinea.
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