Tunisia (Group B)

Unbeaten in the qualifiers and topped a group that included Senegal and Egypt. They have shown a marked improvement in confidence from the side that only made the World Cup qualifying play-offs in late 2013 because of a sanction for Cape Verde – who they now meet again in the Nations Cup finals. Tunisia have bounced back well since a coaching change to make their 16th finals’ appearance. Their only success was in 2004, when they were hosts.

COACH
George Leekens has twice been national coach of his native Belgium and also spent one year in charge of Algeria. He led Belgium to the 1998 World Cup and was coach again from 2010 to 2012, but surprisingly quit for a job at Club Brugge which was then a better proposition than the national-team job. His club coaching career in Belgium has been extensive and he also worked at Trabzonspor in Turkey, Roda JC in Holland and Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia.

KEY PLAYERS

Leekens has a relatively young and inexperienced squad but says there is huge potential: “They could all certainly compete at the sub-top in Europe. As far as mentality and character goes, they are one of the best groups I’ve ever trained.” They will have two midfielders in front of the back four and then two ahead of them in Wahbi Khazri and Yassine Chikhaoui, who are both potential match winners.

LIKELY STARTING XI (4-5-1):
Aymen Mathlouthi - Hamza Mathlouthi, Aymen Abdennour, Syman Ben Youssef, Ali Maaloul - Fakhreddine Ben Youssef, Stephane Nater, Yassine Chikhaoui, Hocine Ragued, Wahbi Khazri - Saber Khalifa.