Tunisia Coach Georges Leekens Focused and Tactical Ahead of Crucial Clash with Senegal
At a late-night press conference shortly after arriving in Dakar on Wednesday, Tunisia’s head coach Georges Leekens made his ambitions and strategy clear ahead of his team’s 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Senegal.
💬 Key Quotes and Insights from Leekens:
🗣️ “We know it’s a difficult trip to Dakar. We’re aware of it. But we’ve also prepared very well for it.”
Leekens acknowledged the challenge posed by the Senegalese squad but emphasized Tunisia’s readiness.
🧠 “It will be a question of playing an intelligent match… Forget the six points we already have and aim for six more.”
Despite already collecting six points in the qualifiers, Leekens wants his players to stay sharp and ambitious, clearly aiming for full points in the home-and-away encounters against Senegal.
⚔️ “Preventing the Senegalese from playing”
The Belgian coach hinted at a tactical approach focused on disrupting Senegal’s rhythm, leveraging any weaknesses despite their known strengths: “They’re physical, tactical, and technical—but they have shortcomings we aim to exploit.”
🏟️ Training and Match Details:
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Tunisia’s 51-person delegation will have only one training session before the match — scheduled for Thursday at the Léopold Senghor Stadium.
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The match kicks off Friday at 8:00 PM GMT, officiated by a Gabonese refereeing trio.
With Senegal known for their strength and pace, Leekens is opting for a pragmatic yet ambitious approach. Whether it ends in a draw or a win, Tunisia clearly isn’t here just to defend — they’re aiming to secure qualification early and make a statement.
