Tunisia Coach Georges Leekens Cautious Despite Strong Start in Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers
Tunisia’s national team coach Georges Leekens has tempered expectations following the Carthage Eagles’ impressive start to the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.
Speaking to Bein Sports on Thursday evening, Leekens described the early success as “unexpected.” The Belgian manager admitted that before the qualifiers began, he had anticipated picking up just three points from the first two matches. Instead, Tunisia has claimed six, including a notable victory against Egypt in Cairo.
“It’s an unexpected start. We thought we would take three points out of six, and now we have the maximum,” Leekens said. “We still hope to take the maximum against Senegal in October.”
Despite the strong start, the coach warned that the upcoming match against Senegal will be challenging. “Senegal is the favourite in the group, with many players playing abroad. Their team is still under construction, but they are a strong side.”
Leekens also urged caution amid rising optimism. “We are not yet qualified. All teams still have equal chances. There are still four matches and twelve points to take, which means any team can still qualify.”
Tunisia currently leads Group G with six points and a goal difference of +4, ahead of Senegal (6 points, +2), Botswana, and Egypt, who have yet to score points in the group.
Leekens’ pragmatic approach highlights the competitive nature of the qualifying campaign as the Carthage Eagles look to secure their place at the 2015 AFCON tournament.
