Senegal Held by Tunisia in Dakar as Injuries Take Their Toll
Dakar — Senegal were forced to settle for a goalless draw at home to Tunisia on Friday in their third outing of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, as injuries hampered Alain Giresse’s plans and disrupted the rhythm of the match.
The Lions of Teranga remain top of Group G on goal difference, but their coach was left ruing the toll taken on his squad during what he described as a difficult evening in Dakar.
“We have to analyse the match based on what actually happened on the pitch,” Giresse said at the post-match press conference. “After just 15 minutes, we lost Kara Mbodji, and at half-time, Moussa Sow had to come off as well. Salif Sané, who replaced him, wasn’t at full fitness either.”
Despite the disruptions, Giresse emphasised the resilience of his team and the importance of avoiding defeat, even in trying circumstances.
“The match didn’t cause us to doubt ourselves,” he added. “Even with key absentees, we didn’t lose—and Tunisia didn’t win.”
The Frenchman, however, acknowledged that the stalemate leaves things finely poised ahead of the reverse fixture in Monastir, just five days away.
“Yes, it’s frustrating to lose key players in these kinds of matches,” he admitted. “But the second leg will be decisive. We’ll have to regroup and recover quickly.”
One potential boost for Senegal is the return of striker Demba Ba. The Beşiktaş forward, who missed Friday’s game through injury, is expected to be fit and available for selection in Tunisia.
The match in Dakar saw Senegal enjoy more possession and attacking intent, but they struggled to break down a well-organised Tunisian side that arrived with a clear plan to frustrate and contain. Coach Georges Leekens deployed a five-man defence that successfully limited Senegal’s scoring chances, and Tunisian goalkeeper Aymen Mathlouthi was rarely troubled.
Tunisia, meanwhile, were content to absorb pressure and slow the tempo whenever possible. While they created few opportunities of their own, the draw keeps them firmly in the race for qualification.
Both nations now sit on seven points after three matches, with Senegal edging top spot thanks to a superior goal difference (+4 compared to Tunisia’s +2). Egypt’s 2–0 win away to Botswana in Gaborone earlier in the day brought them up to three points and within reach of the top two with three games remaining.
As the qualifiers reach their midway point, all eyes now turn to Monastir, where Senegal and Tunisia will clash again in what promises to be a decisive encounter in the battle for Group G supremacy.
