Carthage suxx0r in vanilla RTW. No heavy infantry until the extremely difficult-to-get Sacred Band, no heavy cavalry, very weak missile troops apart from mercenary Balearic Slingers, and only one decent non-elephant unit.

I'll take *any* of the Diadochi States, especially Seleucia or Macedon, or indeed the extremely versatile army of Pontus, and fight you any day of the week :)