West African side Liberia faces a steep test against North African giant Tunisia in today’s Group H World Cup qualifying contest at the Hammadi Agrebi Stadium.
Tunisia has displayed effectiveness and solidity throughout the qualifying series, showcasing an unblemished defensive performance and a ruthless attacking style.
After completing six matches, Sami Trabelsi’s squad has secured five wins and one draw, placing them at the top of Group H with 16 points—four points ahead of second-placed Namibia—scoring nine goals while ensuring they haven’t conceded any.
Rabelsi, now in his second term as Tunisia’s head coach since his appointment in February, kicked off his tenure with a 1-0 victory over Liberia and then guided his team to a 2-0 win against Malawi.
His team had mixed outcomes in friendly matches, winning 2-0 against Burkina Faso but losing 2-0 to Morocco, where defender Ali Al-Abdi was sent off.
On Thursday, they aim for a seventh consecutive clean sheet in the qualifiers to extend their group lead.
Tunisia holds a strong record against Liberia, with five wins in their last seven encounters, one draw, and one loss.
Liberia, on the other hand, will approach this match with cautious hope, aware that they face one of Africa’s top teams but motivated by their improved play. The Lone Stars sit third in Group H with 10 points from three wins, one draw, and two losses.
After a disappointing Africa Cup of Nations qualifying round, they seek redemption for World Cup qualification. A FIFA ruling upgraded a prior loss to Equatorial Guinea to a 3-0 victory, boosting their morale. Since then, they drew 1-1 with Namibia and narrowly defeated Sao Tome & Principe 1-0.
Despite a close 1-0 loss to Tunisia in March, they rebounded with a 2-1 win against Sao Tome & Principe. However, they have struggled defensively, suffering four defeats in their last six matches and conceding 10 goals.
