Tunisian goalkeeper Ali Boumnijel is the oldest player in the African Nations Cup but the 38-year-old believes that his experience could have a valuable steadying influence on his teammates when they face Nigeria in the semi-finals on Wednesday.
"There are words, looks, attitudes. I try to reassure the youngsters," said Boumnijel whose club career has taken him around France from Gueugnon to Bastia and now Rouen.
"I talk a lot on the pitch. My experience helps me to feel things, to anticipate and talking a lot helps ease the pressure."
There will be plenty of pressure on Wednesday with 60,000 people inside the Rades Stadium, most of whom will be willing Tunisia one step closer to a possible first ever Nations Cup title.
Boumnijel made his international debut in 1991 in a 5-3 friendly win against the Ivory Coast but he credits current national coach Roger Lemerre with giving him a new lease of life.
"Before Roger came, it was a closed group," he admitted.
"Now we have positive players who work together whereas before there were negative players who tried to have all the influence.
"With Lemerre, it is a pleasure to train. Everyone is treated equally and that is very healthy."
Boumnijel is the only survivor from the Tunisian team which crashed out in the first round in 1994 when they were hosts.
"That was a negative experience and the country was traumatised. Now we need to be positive to face Nigeria. For me, I am the first line of attack."