Renowned Tunisian football legend and 2004 AFCON champion Radhi Jaidi, reflecting on the victory over Morocco, has divulged his predictions for the upcoming edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, scheduled to take place in Ivory Coast.
The forthcoming AFCON edition, commencing on January 13 and concluding on February 11, will feature 24 teams.
Tunisia finds itself placed in Group F alongside South Africa, Mali, and Namibia.
Having reached the quarter-finals in the previous edition, Tunisia suffered an exit against Burkina Faso with a narrow 1-0 defeat.
In an exclusive conversation with “btolat.com,” Radhi Jaidi shared his insights on the anticipated tournament.
He remarked, “I expect an extremely tough championship because, from my perspective, all teams are robustly prepared for this edition.
Therefore, it won’t be just two teams contending for the title.”
He continued, “There are Morocco and the Senegal national team, the reigning champions from the last tournament.
Also, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Ghana, Tunisia, and Egypt have the qualities of champions.”
Reflecting on the memories of the 2004 edition and Tunisia’s triumph, Jaidi stated, “The title was historic for us Tunisians, instilling a sense of pride and belonging.”
He added, “It was an exceptionally challenging victory, but its significance endures as people still talk about it even after 20 years.
A pivotal memory was when I laid hands on the championship trophy after defeating Morocco.”
Addressing Tunisia’s group in the 2023 AFCON, Jaidi remarked, “On paper, all the teams are exceptionally tough.
We’re talking about South Africa, which currently possesses a strong generation, as well as Mali.
However, we must not forget that we are the Tunisian national team.”
He added, “The Tunisian national team has very talented players.
While some lack experience in such tournaments, we are a team capable of performing well in such competitions.
I anticipate reaching at least the quarter-finals.”
Speaking about the squad selection, he said, “Every coach has his own vision for players who can implement his ideas.
I was surprised by the exclusion of Hannibal Mejbri, but he has personal issues with the Manchester United team.
His presence would have provided good solutions for the coach, as we have seen in the previous matches.”
Jaidi continued, “However, there is an outstanding player, Houssem Taouk, who plays for Esperance.
He delivers exceptional performances with his team, and his presence could be effective.
I also wished for the inclusion of Mohamed Drager at right-back, but he is injured.”
Concluding his remarks, Jaidi expressed his hopes, saying, “I wish for Tunisia to clinch the title, but I expect Morocco to reach the finals.
Perhaps we will see Senegal again, Ivory Coast, Algeria, and maybe a surprise with Cameroon or Ghana qualifying.
However, in my opinion, Morocco has the capability to secure the title after their performance in the 2022 World Cup.”
