Tunisian defender confident of being able to defeat "hero" groups

Tunisian defender Fakhruddin Jaziri has expressed confidence in his team's ability to surprise rivals in the African Champions League group stage and qualify for the quarter-finals, even though the draw puts them in the lead. a difficult group.

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The draw, African Friday, which returns in the group stage for the first time in 22 years, has entered the third group that includes the Congolese Mazembe, the young Constantine of Algeria and the Ismaili Egyptians.

"We are able to go beyond the group stage and qualify for the quarterfinals, especially considering the good period we are currently experiencing after the start of the tough season," said Al Jazeeri to Reuters by phone.

"When we show our true level, we will be able to get the qualification, it is true that the task is difficult for the strong clubs, but when we improve, it will be easy."

He continued to "get all the points on our ground and in front of our audience and to withdraw points from our house to our weapon to obtain the qualification card".

"The African team includes a good team of players with talent and potential, and I consider that this level is close to the teams of the Ismaili group and the young people of Constantine and Mazembe."

"The completion of the last season, when we started badly, before taking second place in the Tunisian League and qualifying for the Champions League and Tunisian Cup, was a reflection of the value and the strength of the players. "

The African team is the first Tunisian team to win the African Champions League under its former regime in 1991, but its continental luster has eased and has not reached the group stage since 1997.

Al-Jaziri thinks his lack of experience will not prevent him from qualifying for the next round, but his long-term group status will give him a strong moral boost to continue progressing in the best continental tournaments. .

"On the contrary, the success of the current generation of players in the group stage of the Champions League after several years will give us a moral boost to progress in the long term," he said. "We are counting on the role of our fans when we play at home."