Tunisia forced to call for striking reinforcements

Cape Verde’s Heldon Ramos was a revelation at the 2013 edition and has the knack of popping up with key goals when needed, crucial strikes coming in qualifiers against Mozambique and Niger to push Cape Verde over the line

Champions 11 years ago, Tunisia’s Africa Cup of Nations 2015 preparations have been hit by a last-minute striker shortage.
Edem Rjaibi and Ahmed Akaichi have been called as replacements for the injured Fakhreddine Ben Youssef and Saber Khalifa, who both suffered muscle injuries during their side’s warm-up friendly against Algeria on Sunday.
The loss of both of their favoured strikers is a huge blow to the North Africans who are one of the tournament favourites. Akaichi has been rebuilding his reputation in recent years after a tough spell with German second-tier side Ingolstadt, while Rjaibi’s only previous international experience is as an unused substitute in friendlies last season, meaning national coach George Leekens has a tough choice ahead of him.
Despite the loss of the strikers that fired them to a place in Equatorial Guinea, Tunisia should have too much quality in their squad for the rest of Group B. They came through qualification unbeaten in a group that included fellow finalists Senegal and continental powerhouses Egypt. Cape Verde were the surprise package of the 2013 Afcon where they made it to the quarter-finals.
But nobody should be surprised this time if the tiny island nation make it at least that far this time too with young strikers Ryan Mendes and Ze Luis, who are both participating in the Uefa Champions League, a major threat.
Zambia have already come unstuck to Cape Verde after they were beaten 2-1 at the Estadio da Varzea to determine who finished top of their qualifying group.