WC Qualifiers: Tunisia Aims to Strengthen Group H Lead Against Malawi

The CAF World Cup qualifier for Group H between Tunisia and Malawi is set to take place on Monday at the Stade Olympique Hammadi Agrebi in Tunis.

Both teams were seen in action on Sunday as they intensified their preparations for the crucial encounter. Tunisia, currently leading the group, is eager to extend their advantage at the top of the standings.

Addressing the media, Tunisia’s head coach Sami Trabelsi expressed confidence in his squad’s ability to secure a positive result against Malawi.

“We have a significant match ahead of us against a strong opponent, despite their previous loss. We are entering a new phase with our players and the recently appointed football federation staff. Our goal is to maintain a winning streak and achieve favorable outcomes,” said Trabelsi.

Tunisia currently leads the group with 13 points from five matches, having recorded four wins and a draw.

Meanwhile, the Malawi national team, also known as the Flames, has been preparing diligently for the fixture. They seek to bounce back after their narrow 1-0 defeat to Tunisia in November 2023.

“We faced Tunisia in Malawi, and they won 1-0. Anything is possible in football. Now, we are here to compete, just as they did when they played us in Malawi. Our goal is to secure a victory,” said Malawi head coach Callisto Pasuwa.

Tunisia holds a two-point lead over Namibia, who will face Equatorial Guinea in Johannesburg on Monday. Liberia, currently in third place with seven points, will take on Sao Tome and Principe, a team that has yet to register a point in the group.

Securing the top spot in the group guarantees direct qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to be hosted by Canada, the United States, and Mexico. The team finishing in second place could still have a chance to advance through the inter-confederation play-offs.

Having qualified for the previous two World Cup tournaments in Russia and Qatar, Tunisia is aiming for their seventh appearance at the global competition. A win on Monday at the Hammadi Agrebi Stadium would be a significant step toward achieving that goal. The Carthage Eagles have been dominant at home, winning both of their previous matches in Tunisia, and they previously defeated Malawi 1-0 in their last meeting, courtesy of a late penalty by their captain, Youssef Msakni.