Tunisia’s national coach, Kais Yaâkoubi, has made it clear that his side will not ease up in their final Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 qualifier against Gambia. With Tunisia already qualified for the tournament in Morocco, the team’s primary goal remains to finish top of Group A, where they are just one point ahead of second-placed Comoros.
Speaking at a pre-match press conference on Sunday, Yaâkoubi expressed his firm intention to secure all three points against Gambia in the match set for Monday, 7:00 p.m. GMT.
“No let-up, I want the three points,” he said. “This is the message I just delivered to my players at this morning’s technical meeting. We must continue what we started and finish in style.”
Focus on Finishing Strong
Tunisia’s spot in next year’s AFCON is already assured, but Yaâkoubi’s focus is squarely on maintaining their position at the top of the group.
The Comoros, just one point behind, are also keen to claim the group leadership, which adds extra significance to Monday’s encounter.
Yaâkoubi emphasized the importance of finishing the qualifiers with a strong performance, despite the pressure being lifted after Tunisia secured their ticket for the finals.
“We have to stay focused and ensure we finish at the top of the group,” he added.
Reflecting on the Journey
In a candid moment, Yaâkoubi reflected on the challenges Tunisia faced during the qualifiers, particularly after their hard-fought victory over Madagascar.
“I have just experienced the most difficult week of my entire coaching career,” he said.
“You cannot imagine the amount of energy we spent to overcome all the difficulties in order to win and secure our ticket for the final phase of the AFCON.
There was so much pressure that we had to arm ourselves with a lot of passion and energy.”
No Ambitions for Long-Term Role
When asked about his future as Tunisia’s head coach, Yaâkoubi was straightforward.
“I have zero ambition to stay at the head of the selection,” he stated, offering no desire for a long-term tenure despite the challenges faced during the qualifiers.
The match against Gambia will mark the conclusion of Tunisia’s AFCON 2025 qualifiers, with the team determined to secure their position as Group A leaders and carry momentum into the tournament next year.
The clash will take place at the Stade de Radès in Tunis, where the home side will look to confirm their dominance in the group.
