Tunisia's National Team Coach Announces Squad for Africa Cup of Nations
The Tunisian national team coach, Sami Trabelsi, held a press conference yesterday to announce the list of 28 players called up for the Africa Cup of Nations, which will take place in Morocco from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.
No Impact from Arab Cup Performance
Trabelsi downplayed the team's early elimination from the Arab Cup, stating that each competition has its own technical specificities and context. He cited the example of Algeria, which won the Arab Cup in 2021 but was eliminated in the first round of the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations.
Approach to the Tournament
Trabelsi announced that the team will approach the Africa Cup of Nations on a match-by-match basis, with the primary goal of advancing to the next round. He expressed his ambition to go as far as possible in the tournament.
Squad Selection
The coach remained faithful to his previous choices, with no major surprises in the announced squad. However, the first call-up of central defender Adem Arous from Turkish club Kasimpasha was notable. Trabelsi also defended his decision to include four goalkeepers in the squad, citing the need for options in case of technical or health issues during the tournament.
Injuries and Omissions
Anis Ben Slimane was not included in the squad due to a prolonged absence from the pitch following an injury with his club, Norwich City. Trabelsi also explained that some young players, such as Salim Bouasker and Khalil Ayari, were not called up due to lack of experience with the national team.
Upcoming Matches
Tunisia will play in Group C of the Africa Cup of Nations, with matches against Uganda on December 23, Nigeria on December 27, and Tanzania on December 30. The team will begin a training camp in Tabarka today, which will conclude with a friendly match against Botswana on December 18.
Squad List
The following players have been called up for the Africa Cup of Nations:
Goalkeepers:
- Aymen Dahmen (CS Sfaxien)
- Béchir Ben Saïd (Espérance ST)
- Noureddine Farhati (Stade Tunisien)
- Sabri Ben Hassan (Etoile du Sahel)
Defenders:
- Yassine Meriah (Espérance ST)
- Montassar Talbi (FC Lorient, France)
- Dylan Bronn (Servette FC, Switzerland)
- Adam Arous (Kasimpasha, Turkey)
- Nader Ghandri (Akhmat Grozny, Russia)
- Mohamed Ben Ali (Espérance ST)
- Yan Valery (Sheffield Wednesday, England)
- Ali Abdi (OGC Nice, France)
- Morthadha Ben Ouannes (Kasimpasha, Turkey)
- Ali Maaloul (CS Sfaxien)
Midfielders:
- Ellyes Skhiri (Eintracht Francfort, Germany)
- Houssem Tka (Espérance ST)
- Ferjani Sassi (Al-Gharafa, Qatar)
- Ismaël Gharbi (FC Augsbourg, Germany)
- Mohamed Haj Mahmoud (FC Lugano, Switzerland)
- Hannibal Mejbri (Burnley FC, England)
- Naïm Sliti (Al-Shamal SC, Qatar)
- Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane (Al-Ahly, Egypt)
Forwards:
- Elias Saâd (FC Augsbourg, Germany)
- Elias Achouri (FC Copenhague, Denmark)
- Sebastian Tounekti (Celtic Glasgow, Scotland)
- Firas Chaouat (Club Africain)
- Hazem Mastouri (Dynamo Makhachkala, Russia)
- Seifeddine Jaziri (Zamalek, Egypt)
