The veteran Ali Maaloul, the left-back of the Tunisia national team, made an error during the Eagles of Carthage's clash with Libya in the qualifiers for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
Maaloul hauled down a Libya player on a Tunisia counter-attack, dragging him to the ground. The referee pointed to the spot, and the resulting penalty gave Libya the opening goal.
Libya led 1-0 at the break.
Tunisia are chasing their first win of the qualifiers. Libya want the three points to climb the group standings.
Two draws, against Botswana and Uganda, left Tunisia with just two points from the opening two rounds.
This clash in qualifying for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations matters enormously. Both teams have stumbled out of the blocks in Group Eight, which also features Uganda and Botswana, and the two head-to-head meetings between the neighbours could decide who edges closest to a qualification ticket.
Moïne Chaâbani leads Tunisia into the qualifiers, having taken charge in the summer of 2026 after steering Espérance de Tunis to back-to-back CAF Champions League titles in 2018 and 2019.
His aim is to restore stability to the Eagles of Carthage, leaning on a squad packed with international pedigree. Ferjani Sassi, Aïssa Laïdouni, Ali Maaloul and Montassar Talbi all feature.
Tunisia opened with a 1-1 draw against Uganda, then threw away the lead against Botswana to draw 2-2, despite Hazem Mastouri scoring both of their goals that night.
Injury has robbed them of Mastouri for both matches against Libya, forcing the staff to call up Mohamed Sadok Guidida in his place.
Libya, meanwhile, are desperate for a win. They started with a 2-2 draw against Botswana, then lost 1-0 to Uganda, taking just a single point from the first two rounds.
Youssef Dabo takes charge of Libya, and he sees the two matches against Tunisia as the chance to drag his side up the qualification race.
Group Eight has only grown tougher. Uganda qualify automatically as one of the tournament hosts, alongside Kenya and Tanzania, which means the group's remaining ticket will go to the best of Tunisia, Libya and Botswana.
A return fixture awaits on 17 November, when Libya host in Tripoli. That doubles the weight of this result for both sides.
I began my journey in journalism in 2012 through the Egyptian newspaper Al Tahrir, where I initially specialized in local politics before shifting my focus to sports in 2014, continuing with the same outlet. I later moved on to write for Al Fareeq and Al Maqal newspapers.
After specializing in covering domestic football in Egypt, I expanded into international football in 2018 through Al Ain Sports, where I worked for six months. I then fulfilled a long-held ambition by joining the team at Kooora, the largest sports website globally, allowing me to continue pursuing my passion for European football that has grown since the early 2000s.
My passion for global football dates back to the 1998 FIFA World Cup, but my true love for European football began with following the UEFA Champions League at the turn of the century. This, in turn, drew me particularly to Italian football, especially AC Milan—a club I chose to support instinctively after watching my very first match. Despite admiring teams like Arsenal, Barcelona, and Manchester United at various points during my youth, the Rossoneri have held a special place in my heart ever since.
I specialize in translating international sports news, a role that aligns with my passion for following transfer developments and uncovering behind-the-scenes stories within team dressing rooms, as reported by global media outlets.
As for my all-time favorite lineup, I would place Gianluigi Buffon in goal, supported by a back four of Roberto Carlos, Paolo Maldini, Alessandro Nesta, and Cafu. In midfield, I rely on Clarence Seedorf, Luka Modrić, and Zinedine Zidane, while in attack I would feature my all-time idol Ricardo Kaká alongside Ronaldinho and Zlatan Ibrahimović.
During my time at Kooora, I have published numerous reports, features, and analyses, most notably:
- Luka Modrić… The warrior who refused to play in his name
- Rodrygo… From Remontada kid to the mysterious man in Alonso’s project
- Kroos… The ever-present absentee in the Club World Cup
- Kooora Story: Ronaldo’s surprise that ignited Ferguson’s enthusiasm
