Libya and Tunisia will go head-to-head for the second time in four days as they lock horns at the Martyrs of February Stadium on Tuesday night.

The hosts will be looking to return to winning ways having lost their last two AFCON qualifiers, while the away side seek to maintain their near-perfect start.

Match preview

In their first outing since the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Tunisia made light work of Libya in Friday's resounding 3-0 victory at the Stade Olympique Hammadi Agrebi.

First-half goals from Youssef Msakni and Ali Maaloul put Jalel Kadri's men in the driving seat heading into the break, after which Haythem Jouini sealed the deal four minutes from time.

As a result, the Eagles of Carthage remain top of Group J, one point clear of Equatorial Guinea as the AFCON qualifying campaign reaches halfway.

They will now seek to record a sixth consecutive win against Libya having come out on top in each of the most recent five encounters by a combined score of 15-4.

Heading into the Tuesday's contest with the possibility of confirming their place at next year's Africa Cup of Nations, the away side will need no further motivation to come away with all three points.

Following their disappointing showing at the African Nations Championship, Libya's defeat against Tunisia last time out was in keeping with a poor run of form in 2023.

Hamdi Bataw's men have been beaten in five of their last six matches across all competitions, with their only win being a dead rubber group-stage clash against Ethiopia.

Luckily for the Mediterranean Knights, they remain just three points adrift in the race for AFCON qualification with three games left to play.

Unbeaten on home turf since 2021, Tuesday's hosts go in search of a crucial win in their quest to end a 12-year wait to feature at Africa's grandest football stage.

Team News

Haythem Jouini opened his account for Tunisia on his debut, and the 29-year-old will head into Tuesday's affair with the wind in his sails.

Seifeddine Jaziri had to come off just past the hour mark against Libya due to an injury scare which could rule him out of contention for this one.

Having switched his international allegiance from France, Yan Valery was recently handed his first run-out with the visitors and could make his full debut here.

Libya's active leading scorer Muaid Ellafi is in line to feature right from the off this time around after he came off the bench last time out.

Talal Farhat had a day to forget at the Stade Olympique Hammadi Agrebi, but the defender is expected to retain his place in the starting lineup.

Libya possible starting lineup:
Ellafi; Al Munir, Farhat, Yusuf, Ben Wali; Ben Amer, Al Musrati, Ellafi; Elhouni, Issa, Soula

Tunisia possible starting lineup:
Dahmen; Kechrida, Meriah, Talbi, Maaloul; Al Arbi, Skhiri, Laidouni; Mejbri, Jouini, Msakni

We say: Libya 1-2 Tunisia

Tunisia exhibited their superiority over Libya last time out, but Tuesday's encounter is likely to be anything but straightforward. Nonetheless, we are tipping the visitors to come away with the victory at the sound of the final whistle.


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