ACTUALITE |
24.01.2002
Egypt v Tunisia
Group D: Egypt v Tunisia, 1530 GMT, Bamako
Tunisia have the psychological advantage when they take on Egypt in their second Group D match.
While the "Carthage Eagles" have one point, courtesy of a nil-nil with Zambia, the "Pharaohs" have none following their defeat by Senegal in the opening match.
It is a battle between two North African giants and both sides need to win to ensure they remain in the tournament.
Both sides play similar styles of football so I think it will be tough....in fact very tough."
Tunisian defender Rahdi Jaidi
In previous meetings, the rivalry between both sides is intense and the matches sometimes degenerating into cynicism and sometimes brawls.
Tunisia were victors at the last major meeting - the quarter-final of the 2000 Nations Cup.
That defeat left the Egyptians red-eyed because they were the defending champions at the time, having won the 1998 edition.
But players from both camps are playing down any negative outcome in this clash on Friday.
"You can see that we`re friends off the pitch and when we get there, we`ll also be friends," Egypt`s teenage striker Ahmed Hossam told BBC Sport Online as he cuddled two Tunisian players.
Tunisian striker Hatem Trabelsi said: "We`ve got love for one another. We`re both North Africans, we speak same Arabic language, practise same Moslem religion and many of us are friends outside the pitch."
Trabelsi and Hossam, nicknamed "Mido" are team-mates at Dutch club Ajax Amsterdam.
"Both sides play similar styles of football and over the years, they ensure they don`t lose to one another," he said.
"So I think it will be tough....in fact very tough."
Hossam still missing
Tunisia`s French coach Henri Michel said both Trabelsi and defender Khaled Badra are doubtful for the match.
Trabelsi has a swollen knee while Badra took a knock in training, said Michel.
Egypt`s veteran talismanic striker Hossam Hassan has still not arrived in Mali for the tournament.
He was reported to have gone abroad to have his knee treated and was to join the "Pharaohs" after their opening game.
"I don`t think he`s going to make it afterall," an Egyptian FA official said.
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