Drager: Our self-belief and bravery sets us apart

Published: 2 Nov 2022

Tunisian national team star Mohamed Drager tells FIFA about the Eagles of Carthage’s journey to Qatar and the scenes that ensued after securing their place at Qatar 2022™.

Drager broke onto the international scene in 2018
He performed outstandingly for the Carthage Eagles throughout the qualifying campaign
The 26-year-old is getting himself in the groove for Qatar 2022™

Picture the scene: it is November 2018 at the Olympic Stadium in Rades, and a 22-year-old Mohamed Drager is about to make his debut for the Carthage Eagles in the Tunisia–Morocco derby. He has to wait until the 78th minute for then head coach Maher Kanzari to wave him on. Back then, he was the new kid on the block; now he is gearing up for his first World Cup. Prior to making his full international debut, Drager had played for Tunisia at U-17 level, notably at the FIFA U-17 World Cup UAE 2013™. He stood out for the Eagles in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, playing in four matches - two as a starter - and has gone on to establish himself as a regular, featuring at the AFCON again in 2021. His most impressive performances, however, came during the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2021™, when he helped Tunisia reach the final, narrowly losing out to Algeria. Fast forward to November 2022 and Drager has 33 international caps to his name, finding himself on the score sheet three times. He is now an integral part of Jalel Kadri's squad for Qatar, where the Tunisians face tough group opposition in the form of France, Denmark and Australia.

FIFA: Tell us more about the play-off game against Mali? What was the general mood before the game? FIFA: Tell us more about the play-off game against Mali? What was the general mood before the game?

Drager: The match itself wasn’t fun, it was a violent affair, but that’s football. I would like to thank the fans who attended; they cheered us on from start to finish. In the second leg, Mali came to win, but we dealt with the pressure. Unlike our opponents, we had something to lose. We just gave it our all.

What emotions were you feeling before the Mali match when you saw a full-capacity stadium.What emotions were you feeling before the Mali match when you saw a full-capacity stadium.

It was unbelievable. Seeing all the fans who made the journey to Rades to support us, it gave me goosebumps. It was beyond my wildest expectations, and it gave us the extra motivation to go out and win the match. We could hear the fans chanting from the changing room.

In the return leg, Mali set up to attack. What was Tunisia's strategy for that match? In the return leg, Mali set up to attack. What was Tunisia's strategy for that match?

We started that game with the idea that we were already one-goal ahead. We didn't want to take any risks, even though we were playing in front of our home crowd. It was such an important match, and we didn’t want to lose focus. We wanted to win. It was the same strategy from the moment we scored in the first leg in Mali. To get the win.

What was it like when the final whistle blew?What was it like when the final whistle blew?

It was surreal. I still can't find the words to describe my emotions in that moment – I never imagined it would be like that before the match kicked off. I can tell you how it feels to score, or win a match or achieve something, but that feeling at that moment was indescribable. It’s unlike any other emotion. I might be able to articulate it later in life, but for now it's hard to describe. Thanks be to God we brought joy to the country and that's what really matters.

You mentioned that your country is football obsessed. What does football mean to Tunisians? Specifically, what does qualifying mean to them?You mentioned that your country is football obsessed. What does football mean to Tunisians? Specifically, what does qualifying mean to them?

At present, football is one of the few joys in Tunisians’ lives. We all know that we have quality players who can bring joy to the country, but, by the same token, we also know that we can ruin a whole nation’s week. I think Tunisia will remain a happy place until the start of the World Cup. This proves just how important football is in Tunisia. We deserved this qualification, both the fans and the players.

Youssef Msakni is one of Tunisia’s brightest talents. What are his qualities as a captain, and how important is his experience for the team?Youssef Msakni is one of Tunisia’s brightest talents. What are his qualities as a captain, and how important is his experience for the team?

Youssef has similar qualities to those of [Wahbi] Khazri. He can go under the radar for 75 minutes, but when he pops up, he can make the difference and win you matches. Youssef is known for his technique and individual skills as well as his intelligence. He is a joy to watch. When he plays, I like to sit on the bench or watch him on TV and just admire him. He’s an excellent player and one of the most important in the team. Msakni is up front with Wahbi and he leads us by example.

Tunisia made it to the 2021 Arab Cup final. What was the journey like to the deciding game? Tunisia made it to the 2021 Arab Cup final. What was the journey like to the deciding game?

We played well throughout the Arab Cup. We started impressively against Mauritania and just kept going until the final. We did slip up against Syria. We were probably overconfident before the game and paid the price. Luckily, we still found a way out of the group. In the end, we deserved to reach the final where we used all our experience and savvy but, unfortunately, it wasn’t to be.

Are there any teams you would rather not come up against?Are there any teams you would rather not come up against?

No, we are not afraid of anyone – we got here on merit and qualified from one of the toughest qualification groups. African teams aren’t easy to play againstand qualifying for the World Cup is no mean feat. We are where we are as a result of hard work, and that's why we’re not afraid of anyone.

More on FIFA+More on FIFA+