Post by Taxigirl on Feb 14, 2004 10:37:43 GMT
Rades stadium will host the first ever North African final
There may be more at stake than the African Cup of Nations when Tunisia and Morocco contest the tournament's first-ever all North African final on Saturday.
Bragging rights in the Maghreb would never be more valuable than if they were secured on the ultimate stage for African football.
But Tunisia and Morocco may also be vying for pole position in the race to stage the 2010 World Cup finals, to be held on the continent for the first time.
South Africa, Libya and Egypt are the other nations to have lodged bids, but winning the Cup of Nations can only improve the chances Tunisia and Morocco already boast.
So far, Tunisia have proved good hosts, laying to rest the ghosts of 1994 when they failed to survive the opening phase on home soil.
Lemerre is looking for a second continental title
Apart from a couple of embarrasing national anthem blunders, the only blot on their copybook has been poor attendances at the games not involving the host nation.
But that has hardly been a problem in Tunisia's five games so far this tournament and Morocco know they will have to overcome a hostile home crowd if they are to make a mark in their first Cup of Nations final since winning the tournament in 1976.
A sell-out animated crowd is expected with two North African teams meeting in the final for the first time.
"It will be an intense match against Tunisia, because they will have all the stadium behind them. But we will be ready," said Moroccan defender Abdeslam Ouaddou.
Defences may well have the biggest say, given that both sides base success on their solid back-lines.
Morocco displayed they also have the attacking power to compliment a defence expertly led by Deportivo de La Coruna's Noureddine Naybet when they ended Mali's brave run in a 4-0 semi-final win.
And when the Carthage Eagles beat the Super Eagles to deny Nigeria another Cup of Nations final on Tunisian soil, the key was Roger Lemerre's frustration tactics.
"We managed to block the supply line to Frederic Kanoute," Morocco defender Hoalid Regragui said.
"This meant they had to pump long balls up in the air and we were able to pick them off."
Runners-up in 1965 and 1996, Tunisia's dominance in African club football has never transferred to the Nations Cup stage.
But in French coach Lemerre they boast a master tactician looking for a second continental cup success in four years after guiding France to the Euro 2000 crown.
"The African Nations Cup has been as much a challenge for me as it has the Tunisian national team," admitted the Frenchman.
On the pitch too, Tunisia have looked to outside their borders for inspiration.
Brazilian striker Francileudo dos Santos took Tunisian nationality in time to make his debut last month and is the Carthage Eagles' top scorer at this tournament.
Another Brazilian-born import, Clayton, is likely to start in defence on Saturday.
Zaki has turned Morocco's fortunes around
The only sour note ahead of the final is the suspension of captain and defender Khaled Badra, booked in the semi-final win over Nigeria.
That could prove crucial against a free-flowing young Moroccan side that as shone under former World Cup goalkeeper Badou Zaki.
Their 4-0 thrashing of Mali in the semi-finals showed how much damage Zaki's side can inflict on a team who fail to cope with the physical challenge.
"This team can score goals from anywhere and there is always an option open to us," said attacking midfielder Youssef Hadji.
"I have a young team who play as a unit rather than individuals," added Zaki.
But meetings between these two sides rarely serve up goal feasts and Saturday's match could well be decided by a flash of inspiration from the likes of Santos or Hadji, both of whom have three goals in the tournament.
Adding further spice to the final - as if it were needed - is the fact Tunisia and Morocco also share the same 2006 World Cup qualifying group later in the year.
But, by then, one is likely to be firmly settled in the driving seat for the right to land the ultimate prize - the 2010 World Cup.