The national team coach of Tunisia, Jalel Kadri, has unveiled his list of selected players for the September 2023 gathering. A group of 26 Carthage Eagles players, including a returning player.
Tunisia will also participate in the international break of September 2023. The Carthage Eagles will face Botswana on the 7th of this month at the Radès stadium in the 6th round of qualifiers for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN), before taking on Egypt in Cairo on the 12th in a prestigious friendly match. The national team coach, Jalel Kadri, revealed on Thursday the list of 26 players who will participate in these matches.
With no real stakes, as they are already qualified for the finals of the Africa Cup of Nations, the Tunisian coach has given a chance to three new dual-nationality players. They are Sami Chouchane, Elias Saad, and Anas Haj Mohamed. At just 19 years old, the first mentioned plays with Brighton’s reserve team.
The midfielder was once a teammate of the promising Hannibal Mejbri at AC Boulogne Billancourt, and this year, he excelled at the U20 Africa Cup of Nations as well as the U20 World Cup. Winger Elias Saad, born in Germany, plays for St. Pauli, while Anas Haj Mohamed plays for Parma in Italy.
Alongside these new faces, the presence of former Olympique Lyonnais player Hamza Rafia stands out, as he had not been called up to the national team since the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations. His impressive performances at the start of the season with Lecce earned him a return to the nest of the Tunisian Eagles. On the other hand, World Cup participants Drager and Anis Ben Slimane have been left out, as well as Khaoui and Laabidi.
Key members of the team, such as Msakni, Talbi, Laidouni, and Skhiri, are of course part of the squad for these two matches, which promise to add a touch of excellence to Tunisia’s preparation for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, with the final phase scheduled from January 13 to February 11, 2024, in Côte d’Ivoire.
Tunisia’s Squad List Against Botswana and Egypt Goalkeepers: Aymen Dahmene (Al Hazem), Bechir Ben Said (US Monastirienne), Mouez Hassen (Club Africain).
Defenders: Alaa Ghram (CS Sfaxien), Ali Abdi (Caen), Ali Maaloul (Al Ahly), Montassar Talbi (Lorient), Nader Ghandri (Ajman), Oussema Haddadi (Greuther Fürth), Wajdi Kechrida (Atromitos), Yassine Meriah (Espérance de Tunis), Yann Valery (Angers).
Midfielders: Ellyes Skhiri (Eintracht Frankfurt), Hannibal Mejbri (Manchester United), Hamza Rafia (Lecce), Aissa Laidouni (Union Berlin), Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane (Ferencvaros), Samy Chouchane (Brighton).
Forwards: Ali Youssef (BK Häcken), Anas Haj Mohamed (Parma), Elias Achouri (FC Copenhagen), Elias Saad (St. Pauli), Haythem Jouini (Stade Tunisien), Omar Layouni (BK Häcken), Sayfallah Ltaief (Winterthur), Youssef Msakni (Al Arabi).
