Does Tunisia fix their group win?
The final match days in the second qualifying round for the 2022 World Cup are upon us in the CAF zone. Some teams have already booked their ticket to the third and decisive qualifying round. Other teams, however, are still struggling to win the group, including the Tunisian national team.
The Eagles from Carthage missed out on a big point in the battle for early group victory during the last international break. Tunisia’s next attempt will be on Saturday evening, and even a minimal point would be of immense importance for the North Africans. After all, a point against Equatorial Guinea would put them within touching distance of winning the group.
Saturday’s opponents, on the other hand, are under pressure to win in order to retain their mathematical chance of winning the group. Because the goal difference is decisive in the event of a tie, Tunisia would still have the chance to advance to the next round on equal points with the “Nzalang Nacional” even if they were to lose on one of the last two match days.
Equatorial Guinea vs Tunisia odds of 1.75 are offered for an away win for the FIFA world number 27. A prediction on this already paid off in the first leg.
Equatorial Guinea – Statistics & current form
Until now, the Equatorial Guinea national team has never qualified for a World Cup. Most of the time, the “Nzalang Nacional”, as the national team of Equatorial Guinea is also called, had to bow out of the qualification early.
This year, the Equatorial Guinean national team has reached the second qualifying round of a World Cup for only the second time in the association’s history. The last time Equatorial Guinea reached the second round was in qualifying for the 2014 World Cup, where the “Nzalang Nacional” was also in a group with Tunisia.
At that time, Equatorial Guinea had to pull out of the tournament early as the last team in the group. This time, however, the team of national coach Juan Micha has a realistic chance of reaching the third and decisive qualifying round in the CAF zone. To do so, however, the Central Africans will have to win their upcoming home match against Tunisia.
Last chance for Equatorial Guinea
With the score still tied on goal difference, Equatorial Guinea will need a minor miracle to knock Tunisia off the top of the Group B table. The only encouraging factor ahead of the crucial group match against the Eagles from Carthage is home advantage.
Equatorial Guinea have recently celebrated four consecutive victories at home. The last defeat came almost two years ago in Malabo, the capital of Equatorial Guinea. Since then, the “Nzalang Nacional” have won against Libya, Tanzania, Mauritania and Zambia. Equatorial Guinea have kept a clean sheet in each of their last four home matches.
If the series continues with another win, odds of 5.00 on Equatorial Guinea vs Tunisia are available for the home side.
Predicted line-up of Equatorial Guinea:
Owono – Mese, Coco-Bassey, Anieboh, Akapo – Bikoro, Machin, Ganet – Josete, Siata, Nsue
Last matches played by Equatorial Guinea:
World Cup Qualifiers CAF – 2nd Round – Grp. B
10/10 2021 – Zambia 1 – 1 Equatorial Guinea
10/07 2021 – Equatorial Guinea 2 – 0 Zambia
09/07 2021 – Equatorial Guinea 1 – 0 Mauritania
09/03 2021 – Tunisia 3 – 0 Equatorial Guinea
Africa Cup of Nations Qualifier Gr. J
03/28 2021 – Tunisia 2 – 1 Equatorial Guinea
Tunisia – Statistics & current form
At the last World Cup in Russia in 2018, the Tunisian national team made a comeback for the first time after two previous failed attempts. As in the World Cups between 1998 and 2006, Tunisia had to pull out of the 2018 World Cup at the group stage.
In a group with England and Belgium, both of whom were among the favourites at the 2018 World Cup, the result was at least partially bearable for the Eagles from Carthage. At present, Tunisia are already on course for the next World Cup in Qatar in 2022.
With the current standings in Group B, the ticket for the third round of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers is probably only a formality. After all, the Tunisian national team currently leads the group with ten points. With a victory on Saturday evening, the Eagles from Carthage can also book their ticket to the next qualifying round.
Will Tunisia’s defensive bulwark hold again?
Tunisia have yet to concede a single goal in their four group matches in the current qualifying phase. Before the surprising draw against Mauritania, Tunisia had won three in a row in the group. This included a clear home victory over Equatorial Guinea in the first round of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.
The Eagles from Carthage thus beat the Equatorial Guinean national team for the third time in a row. It is quite possible that the series will be extended on Saturday night as well. Since September 2019, Tunisia have lost only one of their last 18 international matches. That defeat came in June 2021 in a test match against Algeria.
Since then, Tunisia have most recently gone unbeaten five times in a row again, not conceding a goal in the process. With the Eagles in their best line-up going into the current international break, it stands to reason that the streak will continue against Equatorial Guinea.
Predicted line-up of Tunisia:
Mustapha – Maaloul, Talbi, Bronn, Mathlouti – Sassi, Skhiri, Laidouni – Khazri, Rafia, Jaziri
Last matches played by Tunisia:
World Cup Qualifiers CAF – 2nd Round – Grp. B
10/10 2021 – Mauritania 0 – 0 Tunisia
10/07 2021 – Tunisia 3 – 0 Mauritania
09/07 2021 – Zambia 0 – 2 Tunisia
09/03 2021 – Tunisia 3 – 0 Equatorial Guinea
Friendly match
06/15 2021 – Tunisia 1 – 0 Mali
Equatorial Guinea – Tunisia Direct comparison / H2H record
The two nations have met six times so far. Tunisia have celebrated four victories against Equatorial Guinea so far. Two matches ended in a draw, including the quarter-finals in the Africa Cup of Nations almost seven years ago. Equatorial Guinea beat Tunisia in extra time to pull off a surprise coup.
Since then, the Eagles from Carthage have beaten Tunisia three times in a row. Tunisia have also gone without conceding a goal in two of their last three internationals against Equatorial Guinea.
Equatorial Guinea – Tunisia bet
Tunisia will approach the hurdle in the Equatorial Guinean capital with a broad chest. The last time the Tunisian national team played in Malabo, it was a narrow away win. The match-winner then was Wahbi Khazri, who is once again in the Tunisian squad for this international break.
During the last international break, Tunisia dropped important points in the fight for group victory in what was supposed to be a must-win game against Mauritania. This time around, the Eagles from Carthage have no further room to lose points, and if they are successful against Equatorial Guinea, they can clinch the group win early.
Because the Tunisian visitors have by far the stronger squad and have recently won three in a row against Equatorial Guinea, we are also leaning towards a win for the FIFA world number 27 this weekend.
With a stake of five units, we even dare to bet on Equatorial Guinea vs Tunisia at attractive odds on “HT/FT: 2/2”.
