Eagles look to feather their nest

ALEXANDRIA – Defending champions Tunisia face their sternest challenge yet in the final Group C match at the African Nations Cup today as they take on Guinea.

Both sides are unbeaten as The Eagles overwhelmed Zambia 4-1 and outclassed hapless South Africa 2-0 with Brazilian-born marksman Santos leading the way with four of their goals to take his tally to 20 goals in 24 internationals since making his debut in 2004. Guinea have left it late twice to win their two matches especially against Zambia where two goals by midfielder Pascal Feinduono – the last in injury time – saw them come from behind.”We’re becoming past masters at the late show,” admitted Feinduono.”However perhaps it would be a better idea to give our fans some relaxation from the tension and score earlier,” added the St Etienne player.Tunisia too had to come from behind against Zambia but they have shown a clinical touch and their French coach Roger Lemerre is keen that they maintain their momentum.”Just because we have qualified with one match remaining means nothing because we need to win the group to avoid meeting the other group winners, who look like being Nigeria,” said the former France handler.Guinea coach Patrice Neveu may not have the coaching credentials of his opposite number – this is his first national post – but he has done his best in melding together mostly modest talents into a united team with good spirit.Especially satisfying for the 51-year-old Frenchman is that his much criticised tactic of playing just one up front and five in midfield has worked out – his justifying it by saying Feinduono loves getting forward coming to fruition against Zambia.However, he acknowledges that Tunisia will present a much tougher examination than their previous two opponents.”They are like Cameroon in the other side of the draw, they are worthy champions and look in ominously good form,” he said.Neveu, though, believes that it will be a good test for his team.”We are into the quarter-finals but we would like to better our performance from two years ago (they also reached the last eight under a different coach) and this should give us a good idea of how close we are to the best sides.”The other match may well see the final bow for South Africa’s 69-year-old coach Ted Dumitru and his opposite number Zambian soccer legend Bwalya Kalusha.Zambia have at least led in both their matches whereas South Africa have yet to score a goal but should surely at last benefit from a weak Zambian defence.”This is a team for the future,” said Bafana Bafana captain Sibusiso Zuma.If they really are then it would be no bad thing for their battered morale to at least end their role in the tournament with victory – defeat would leave a new coach with a task worthy of Hercules’ talents.-Nampa-AFPGuinea have left it late twice to win their two matches especially against Zambia where two goals by midfielder Pascal Feinduono – the last in injury time – saw them come from behind.”We’re becoming past masters at the late show,” admitted Feinduono.”However perhaps it would be a better idea to give our fans some relaxation from the tension and score earlier,” added the St Etienne player.Tunisia too had to come from behind against Zambia but they have shown a clinical touch and their French coach Roger Lemerre is keen that they maintain their momentum.”Just because we have qualified with one match remaining means nothing because we need to win the group to avoid meeting the other group winners, who look like being Nigeria,” said the former France handler.Guinea coach Patrice Neveu may not have the coaching credentials of his opposite number – this is his first national post – but he has done his best in melding together mostly modest talents into a united team with good spirit.Especially satisfying for the 51-year-old Frenchman is that his much criticised tactic of playing just one up front and five in midfield has worked out – his justifying it by saying Feinduono loves getting forward coming to fruition against Zambia.However, he acknowledges that Tunisia will present a much tougher examination than their previous two opponents.”They are like Cameroon in the other side of the draw, they are worthy champions and look in ominously good form,” he said.Neveu, though, believes that it will be a good test for his team.”We are into the quarter-finals but we would like to better our performance from two years ago (they also reached the last eight under a different coach) and this should give us a good idea of how close we are to the best sides.”The other match may well see the final bow for South Africa’s 69-year-old coach Ted Dumitru and his opposite number Zambian soccer legend Bwalya Kalusha.Zambia have at least led in both their matches whereas South Africa have yet to score a goal but should surely at last benefit from a weak Zambian defence.”This is a team for the future,” said Bafana Bafana captain Sibusiso Zuma.If they really are then it would be no bad thing for their battered morale to at least end their role in the tournament with victory – defeat would leave a new coach with a task worthy of Hercules’ talents.-Nampa-AFP