Tanzania v Tunisia preview
Tanzania are looking to pull off a major upset against opponents ranked 71 places above them by FIFA when Miguel Angel Gamondi’s side take on Tunisia in their final Group C match in Rabat on Tuesday.
The Taifa Stars need to win to reach the last 16 after losing their opening match 2-1 to Nigeria and taking the lead before drawing 1-1 with Uganda.
“We need to try [be decisive] when we got the ball, we attacked and created chances,” said Gamondi, whose team could have beaten the Cranes but was also relieved when Allan Okello missed a late penalty for their opponents.
“These guys need to be more confident… it will be very difficult. Tunisia is a great team. Tanzania does not have much experience in the African Cup of Nations and, therefore, we have made some mistakes. We will fight until the end.” [kick].”
2004 champions Tunisia began their campaign with a 3-1 win against Uganda and a 3-2 loss to Nigeria, meaning a point will guarantee them a place in the last 16.
“Losing hurts, and losing always means that many flaws will appear,” said coach Sami Trabelsi, blaming the loss to the Super Eagles on Saturday, in which Tunisia trailed 3-0 after 67 minutes, largely due to missed duels.
🎥 HIGHLIGHTS: 🇳🇬 3-2 🇹🇳
Nigeria with a well-deserved victory against Tunisia in the #TotalEnergiesAFCON2025. pic.twitter.com/hTrfdaKR9X
— TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 (@CAF_Online) December 28, 2025
“The championship is still long. [Tanzania] The game is important and we have to come out with the points.”
Tanzania will be eliminated if they do not win. A defeat for Trabelsi’s team would leave them with a solid chance of qualifying as one of the four best third-place finishers in the six groups.
Tanzania v Tunisia: AFCON team news
Gamondi may have to make several tough decisions over his lineup, having signed Kelvin John for experienced striker Mbwana Samatta (who was once the subject of an £8.5m move from Genk to Aston Villa) against Uganda.
Midfielder Charles M’Mombwa scored against Nigeria, but was a substitute against Uganda. Defender Haji Mnoga, of the English fourth division Salford City, conceded a penalty and was booked in the tie after replacing Shomari Kapombe.
Trabelsi made one change in midfield against Nigeria, bringing on Mohamed Ben Romdhane for Elias Saad.
Celtic winger Sebastian Tounekti replaced Al Ahly’s Ben Romdhane during the second half of that match, in which Tunisia’s goals came courtesy of defenders Montassar Talbi and, with an 87th-minute penalty, Ali Abdi.
Burnley midfielder Hannibal Mejbri has provided an assist in each of his games. Elias Achouri scored twice against Uganda and Ellyes Skhiri opened the scoring.
Tanzania-Tunisia: planned lineups for AFCON 2025
Tanzania starting XI: Zuberi Foba, Shomari Kapombe, Bakari Mwamnyeto, Ibrahim Hamad, Mohamed Hussein, Simon Msuva, Alphonce Msanga, Charles M’Mombwa, Novatus Miroshi, Tarryn Allarakhia, Mbwana Samatta
Tunisia starting XI: Aymen Dahmen, Yan Valery, Dylan Bronn, Montassar Talbi, Ali Abdi, Mohamed Ben Romdhane, Ferjani Sassi, Ellyes Skhiri, Hannibal Mejbri, Hazem Mastouri, Elias Achouri
How to watch Tanzania v Tunisia: TV channel, live stream online
Tuesday’s kickoff is at 16:00 GMT (11:00 ET / 08:00 PT). In the UK, live coverage is on Channel 4’s YouTube channel. In the US, beIN Sports is the tournament’s broadcaster.
Online live streaming is available on a wide range of devices via Channel 4 website and the beIN Sports app and app.
Tanzania v Tunisia: AFCON 2025 stats
- Tanzania has never won an AFCON match (D4 L7) and could become the fourth nation, after Mozambique (16), Benin (15) and Guinea-Bissau (12), to fail to win any of its first 12 matches in the finals.
- Only one of their last four matches of this type (against Tunisia in this edition) ended in defeat (D3)
- They have scored in their first two AFCON matches for the first time since 1980.
- In the last three group stage matches, their only defeat was 3-0 against Algeria in 2019.
- Simon Msuva’s goal against Uganda took the striker’s tally to three AFCON goals in three different editions, making him the first Tanzanian player to score a hat-trick in different AFCON tournaments.
- Msuva’s three goals in the AFCON have put Tanzania ahead, but they have failed to win any of those games (D2 L1).
- The loss to Nigeria was the first time Tunisia had lost an AFCON match after scoring at least two goals since their 3-2 quarter-final loss to Cameroon in 2008. They had been unbeaten in nine games when they scored at least two goals (W8 D1).
- They lost their second group stage match after winning their opening match for the first time since 2013.
- The Águilas de Cartago have failed to win their final group match in each of the last three AFCON tournaments.
- A 4-2 victory over Zimbabwe in 2017 is their most recent victory in such a match.
- Tunisia is on the verge of reaching the round of 16 for the 15th time
- Both of their shots on goal against Nigeria were goals and their 26% shot conversion rate is the highest of any team in the tournament.
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