Johannesburg — As Tunisia prepare to meet Algeria on Tuesday (January 22nd) for the much-anticipated 2013 African Cup of Nations Group D Maghreb derby, Magharebia met with playmaker Oussama Darragi to ask about the Carthage Eagles' chances.

For the FC Sion midfielder, it's all about a Maghreb win.

Magharebia: Do you feel ready for CAN?

Oussama Darragi: We have had two preparatory training camps in Abu Dhabi and Doha. They were useful for the team and for all the players, especially from the physical perspective, and we stand ready to compete in the Africa Cup of Nations.

Magharebia: You face Algeria in your opening game. How do you expect this fraternal game to unfold?

Darragi: Facing Algeria is just a confrontation between two Arab brotherly teams. We will engage with great strength and a will of steel in order to win.

We realise that the Algerian national team wants to win too, but we insist also on winning, especially after all the training and the friendlies we played.

So I guess there is no fear for our team in this competition. We will tackle it with strength in order to go further.

Magharebia: Is your CAN opener any different because it's a Maghreb derby?

Darragi: I believe that the team that is the most prepared, both physically and mentally, will win the match. For our part, we will have had four warm-ups before the game against Algeria and I think that is enough for us to prepare well for this important confrontation.

Magharebia: Who do you think will advance to the next round of this continental competition?

Darragi: I hope we advance, together with our Algerian brothers.

I am Tunisian and I think with a logic that is purely Arab, so I hope that both the Tunisian and Algerian national teams reach the quarter-finals, hence increasing the chances of the Maghreb in this competition. And why not win the title?