2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa: Slight edge for Togo over Tunisia in battle for 2nd group D q-final slot - The battle for the second quarter-final slot in group D will be settled Wednesday when Togo takes on Tunisia in their final group D match at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.
While both nations have three points each, Togo has a slight edge on goal differential, meaning that in the event of a draw, the West Africans will join Cote d'Ivoire, fellow regional team which has already advanced to the quarter-finals from the group.
But Togo's coach, Didier Six, said while a draw will be enough for his team to sail through to the last eight, the team will still go for a win against Tunisia.
'I don't have a team which plays defensive football; the spirit of my players on the pitch is to win. Yes, mathematically, we need only one point, but the reality of our football is not to be content with that. We'll be going for the win,' Six said.
Togo's talisman, Emmanuel Adebayor, has also signalled that the match will be approached with all seriousness.
“I am not here (South Africa) on vacation but to help Togo win, if you want to see me relaxed come in May when I am on my break,” he said.
Adebayor scored one of Togo's two goals against Algeria, while Dove Wome scored the other. The win follows Togo's 1-2 loss to Cote d'Ivoire in the group's opener.
Even though the odds seem stacked against Tunisia, the north Africans are still eyeing the quarter-final ticket.
Their impressive pedigree at the two-yearly Africa Cup of Nations (one-time champion and twice runners-up), compared to that of Togo, which has never gone beyond the first stage in its six previous appearances at the tournament, gives the Tunisians some confidence going into the match.
Tunisia coach Samir Trabelsi has predicted a tough encounter Wednesday, but believes his charges will prevail because they are more cohesive as a team.
“We have put behind us the loss to Ivory Coast but even from that game we took some positives because for a part of the game we dominated. We lost but played well, so that is encouraging,” Trabelsi said.
He expressed the hope that one of his star players, Mskani, will be fit for the match.
“We have to wait for further news on Msakni with his injury but we are hopeful he will play,”said Trabelsi.
Pana 30/01/2013