Gabon, Tunisia no fuss over q/final foes

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Gabon, Tunisia no fuss over q/final foes

Wednesday, 01 February 2012

Both Gabon and Tunisia have maintained that they are not particular about the team they would prefer in the quarterfinal of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations this weekend.

Co-hosts Gabon beat Tunisia by the odd goal to finish top of Group A with a perfect nine points from three matches, while Tunisia, on six points, were placed second.

On Sunday, the Panthers of Gabon will clash with the runners-up in Group D, while Tunisia will face the winners of Group D.

Ghana lead Group D with six points from two matches and take on third-placed Guinea in Franceville Wednesday night, while third-placed Mali tackle bottom team Botswana in the other game.

Even bottom team Botswana still have a mathematical chance of sneaking into the last eight after Wednesday matches.

“We do not have any preferences about our opponents in the quarterfinals,” insisted Gabon coach Gernot Rohr after his team weathered the storm to beat Tunisia courtesy of a second-half goal by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

“I’m happy we finished top of our group. I have ambitious players who are humble at the same time and we are ready for any team in the rest round.”

Tunisia coach Sami Trabelsi equally refused to pick a preferred quarterfinal foe.

“I don’t have any preferences. We only need to impose ourselves in our next game and not preoccupy ourselves with which of the opponents we will face,” said Trabelsi.

“We need to be focussed and take care of some finer details in our next game.”

The Carthage Eagles dominated the play from start to finish even though they rested several of their key players not to risk them drawing a suspension with a second booking.

However, the 2004 champions could not translate their ball possession into goals.

“We had more of the ball and dominated the game, while Gabon converted their chance. We could not do same,” said Trabelsi.

Saint Etienne star Aubameyang scored his third goal of the tournament, but insisted that what was most important was that The Panthers won again.

“We wanted to win and go back to play in Libreville. So, our mission was accomplished,” he said.

“The fans bring a lot to our game but we would have loved a bigger crowd for the match against Tunisia.”