Tunisia FA launch inquiry

El Ouaer will be expected to point the finger of blame

The Tunisian Football Federation has formed a commission of inquiry into the disastrous Nations Cup elimination of the national team.

The Carthage Eagles, who are rated by Fifa to be Africa's best team, went out after failing to score a single goal.

Now, after a meeting involving the FTF president, French coach Henri Michel and the captain of the side, Chokri El Ouaer, it has been decided to investigate why the showing was so bad.

The commission will consist of club officials, journalists and coaches.

In the communiqué issued by the FTF, the commission's task will be to evaluate the performance of the team in Mali and also to plan ahead of future tournaments.

Tunisia are the only World Cup-bound team that failed to reach the quarter-finals at the Nations Cup.

Shockingly bad

South Africa, Nigeria, Cameroon and Senegal all did, and indeed the latter three have made the semis.

But Tunisia finished with only two points in their group, in third position behind Senegal and Egypt.

Did the players want Michel out?

And their performances were so shockingly bad Tunisian newspapers raised the possibility that the players were deliberately underperforming to get coach Henri Michel sacked.

The terrible showing is a cause for alarm because the Tunisians will stage the next Nations Cup in 2004.

It is not known when or how long the inquiry would last but it is clear that Tunisia must get it over to prepare for the World Cup finals.