The Tunisia national team has come halfway to the finals of the 35th African Cup of Nations in Morocco, after achieving its second successive victory in the second round of qualifiers, defeating its Gambian host 2-1 at the Abdi Stadium in El Jadida, Morocco, in the first group competitions.

The goals were scored for Tunisia by Ali Al-Abdi (11) and Mohamed Ali Ben Ramadan (76), and for Gambia by Ali Soui (14).

The Tunisian team raised its score at the top of the group to 6 points, ahead of the Gambia team, whose score was frozen at one point, and the Comoros team comes third with a point as well, and will meet its host Madagascar in the Moroccan city of Oujda, on Monday.

The veteran coach, Faouzi Benzarti, once again missed the services of captain Youssef Msakni, whose injury was renewed, and Hamza Al Khadraoui was absent for the same reason, which necessitated making adjustments to the squad led by the Hungarian Ferencvaros player Mohamed Ali Ben Ramadan, along with the Qatari Al Wakrah player Issa Al Aidouni and the Al Gharafa player. Qatari Ferjani Sassi is in the midfield, in addition to the attacking trio, Qassem Pasha’s Turkish player, Mortada Ben Ounas, Hacken’s Swedish player, Ali Youssef, and Hamza Rafia, the Italian Lecce striker.

The Tunisians gained the advantage at the start of the match, and Ben Ramadan was almost alone, but he did not control the ball properly, wasting a favorable opportunity for his team (7).

The Tunisian advantage resulted in progress when the left back of the French club Nice, Ali Al-Abdi, headed into the net, headed into the net a rebound from Gambian goalkeeper Sheikh Sibi, following a free kick shot by Qawia Ben Romdhane (11). This was the first international goal for Al-Abdi (30 years old) in official competitions. After scoring two goals in two friendly matches against Chile and Iran before the 2022 World Cup finals.

The Tunisian lead only lasted 3 minutes, as Ali Soui equalized for the Gambian team with a close shot, taking advantage of the poor positioning of the Tunisian defenders (14).

Tunisian goalkeeper Aman Allah Mamish saved his net from Moussa Barrow’s dangerous shot (18), then Ben Ounas wasted a dangerous opportunity after being alone, but he was slow in handling the ball (24).

The host team continued to create a threat to Mameesh’s goal through quick rebounds, as the Tunisian goalkeeper excelled remarkably in making a complete save for striker Soi (45).

The "Carthage Eagles" team maintained its advantage and control in the second half, and created a threat to the Gambian goal, as substitute Haitham Al-Gwaini wasted a rare opportunity when he was completely alone and shot into the body of the goalkeeper (51). Then Al-Gwaini headed a powerful ball that was brilliantly saved by goalkeeper Sebe (51). 57).

The Tunisians translated their advantage into progress again, this time through Ben Ramadan with a creeping shot that went into the net following a pass from Esperance player Raed Bouchniba (76).