Sahel, Tunisia

The Tunisian Sahel (Arabic: الساحل‎) is an area of eastern Tunisia. It stretches along the eastern shore, from Hammamet in the north to Mahdia in the south, including the cities of Monastir, Mahdia and Sousse. Its name derives from the Arabic word sāḥil (ساحل), meaning "shore" or "coast". The regions'economy is based especially on Tourism and it contains the second biggest airport in Tunisia : Monastir Habib Bourguiba International Airport.

Geography

The Sahel extends inland to the hills which protect the low plains of the coast and are covered in olive plantations; the region's low rainfall is compensated for by the atmospheric humidity.

Since antiquity, it has formed a clear geographic unity with its own unique demographic and economic characteristics. Today it consists of the governorates of Sousse, Monastir and Mahdia.

Its geographic area is quite large: about 140 km from north to south and varying between twenty and sixty kilometres east-west. The total area is around 6600 km², 4.02% of the total surface area of Tunisia.

Tunisia

Tunisia (Arabic: تونس‎  Tūnis; Berber: ⵜⵓⵏⴻⵙ), officially the Tunisian Republic or the Republic of Tunisia (Arabic: الجمهورية التونسية‎  al-Jumhūrīya at-Tūnisīya; Berber: ⵜⴰⴳⴷⵓⴷⴰ ⵏ ⵜⵓⵏⴻⵙ) is the northernmost country in Africa, covering 165,000 square kilometres (64,000 sq mi). Its northernmost point, Ras ben Sakka, is the northernmost point on the African continent. It is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. As of 2013, its population is estimated at just under 10.8 million. Its name is derived from its capital city, Tunis, which is located on the country's northeast coast.

Geographically, Tunisia contains the eastern end of the Atlas Mountains and the northern reaches of the Sahara desert. Much of the rest of the country's land is fertile soil. Its 1,300 kilometres (810 mi) of coastline includes the African conjunction of the western and eastern parts of the Mediterranean Basin and, by means of the Sicilian Strait and Sardinian Channel, features the African mainland's second and third nearest points to Europe after Gibraltar.

Tunisian wine

Tunisian wine has a long history dating back to the Antiquity like most Mediterranean countries with the Phoenicians and Carthage .

The agronomist Mago that lived in the city of Carthage, wrote a treaty about agronomy and viticulture, from which its techniques are still used until this day. Despite the arrival of a Muslim power since the 7th century AD, viticulture and wine production never quite disappeared from Tunisia.

Rosé wine accounts for a large proportion of the Tunisian production.

History

Vine and palm

Vine and palm

Mosaic of the villa rustica of Tabarka

Mosaic of the villa rustica of Tabarka

Reconstruction of a wine press near Fériana

Reconstruction of a wine press near Fériana

Mosaic of the Triumph of Bacchus in Sousse Archaeological Museum

Mosaic of the Triumph of Bacchus in Sousse Archaeological Museum

Basket of grapes

Basket of grapes

Wine production in today's Tunisia was probably introduced by the Phoenicians when Carthage was established. The Carthaginian agronomist Mago wrote on viticulture, and his works, which were later translated from Punic to Latin, were quoted by later Roman writers such as Columella.

2004 African Cup of Nations

The 2004 African Cup of Nations was the 24th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, the football championship of Africa (CAF). It was hosted by Tunisia. Just like in 2002, the field of sixteen teams was split into four groups of four. Tunisia won their first title, beating Morocco in the final 2−1.

Qualification

Squads

Venues

Group stage

Teams highlighted in green progress to the quarter-finals.

All times local : CET (UTC+1)

Group A

Tunisia  v  Rwanda

DR Congo  v  Guinea

Rwanda  v  Guinea

Tunisia  v  DR Congo

Tunisia  v  Guinea

Rwanda  v  DR Congo

Group B

Kenya  v  Mali

Senegal  v  Burkina Faso

Senegal  v  Kenya

Burkina Faso  v  Mali

Senegal  v  Mali

Burkina Faso  v  Kenya

Group C

Zimbabwe  v  Egypt

Cameroon  v  Algeria

Cameroon  v  Zimbabwe

Algeria  v  Egypt

Cameroon  v  Egypt

Algeria  v  Zimbabwe

Group D

Nigeria  v  Morocco

South Africa  v  Benin

Nigeria  v  South Africa

Morocco  v  Benin

Morocco  v  South Africa

Nigeria  v  Benin

Knockout stage

Quarter-finals

Mali  v  Guinea

Tunisia  v  Senegal

Cameroon  v  Nigeria