We are coming towards the conclusion of qualifying for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations. We have plenty of fixtures to look forward to this week including the meeting between Libya and Tunisia at the Tripoli Stadium.
Libya come into the game sitting bottom of Group J, with only 3 points from their 4 matches played.
However, with two rounds of fixtures remaining in the group, Libya are only 3 points behind Equatorial Guinea, who are in second place, so there is still all to play for as the top two team qualify for the tournament.
However, Libya come into the game in poor form having failed to win any of their last 5 matches, 3 of which came in the African Nations Championship and 2 in Africa Cup of Nations qualifying.
In fact, Libya have picked up just a single victory from their 11 most recent games in all competitions and that came at home against Tanzania in this group.
That was one of just two victories recorded at home by Libya in their last 8 attempts. However, they do not tend to lose by large margins and the 4 defeats in those 8 games have come by just a single goal.
Tunisia travel to the Tripoli Stadium having already secured their place in the final tournament. They sit top of the group on 10 points and even if they were to lose their final two games in the group, Tunisia would still progress to the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.
Tunisia come into this match undefeated in the group and they have won 3 of their 4 fixtures to date. The only game they failed to win came away from home against Tanzania and that much ended in a 1-1 draw.
Trends show Tunisia have been difficult to beat in recent matches and they undefeated in each of their last 9 games.
They have also been difficult to beat away from home and Tunisia are undefeated in their 4 most recent fixtures on the road. However, in each of their last 3 away games, Tunisia have managed to score just a single goal, which is not a great record.
Tunisia finished in fourth place in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations and will be hoping for another successful competition in 2021.
Team news and Libya’s squad features players all from inside their own country. Defender Rabea Al Laafi is their most experienced player and the captain has 23 caps for his country in what is an inexperienced squad.
Tunisia can call upon Youssef Msakni and Wahbi Khazri to lead their attack, who have 31 international goals between them. Yassine Meriah, Ferjani Sassi, and Naïm Sliti are some of the other experienced players in the squad.
This is a match Tunisia will be expected to win but their away record in terms of victories shows they are not convincing on the road.
Therefore, this game could end in a narrow victory for the Eagles of Carthage, with 1-0 a likely final score.