Mastouri Continues to Score Season after Season
Mastouri is piling up the goals, season after season, to the point of impacting the national team, which is leading its group in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. We are still counting on him to finish the job by showcasing his efficiency against Equatorial Guinea.
A Proven Striker
According to La Presse, Hazem Mastouri is a striker who is reaching a level of offensive maturity that makes him a proven goal-scorer in both club and national team settings. His latest performance against Liberia speaks volumes about his intrinsic qualities as a center-forward, which weigh heavily on opposing defenses.
Effective and Clinical
Mastouri was effective and able to string together actions, as seen in his impressive first half against Liberia, which greatly benefited Tunisia in these 2026 World Cup qualifiers. In both the first and second legs, he scored a goal that quickly put the national team in a safe position, allowing them to maintain or increase their lead.
Recent Performance
In the latest face-off, Mastouri delivered a notable performance with two other goal-scoring opportunities that nearly found the back of the net, including a header that was barely saved by Tommy Songo. Skilled with his right foot and effective in the air, Mastouri is a professional center-forward with the required experience to make a significant impact this season, the season of confirmation.
A Late Bloomer
Although he is 28 years old, which is considered late for a player to reach his peak, Mastouri has just come off a season where he revealed his talents to the general public, delivering consistent performances. As the second-best scorer in the championship last year with 16 goals, including 5 penalties, he has recently moved to Russia to join Dinamo Makhachkala, with whom he is contracted until June 30, 2028. He did not take long to make an impact in the Cup, scoring a goal with a classic center-forward finish, cutting inside from the left against FK Rostov.
Additional Advantages
Another advantage of Mastouri is his discipline in the game, having received almost no yellow cards while playing for the national team. He can also play on the left wing, making him a versatile attacker who makes a difference up front.
National Team Debut
Mastouri made his debut with the Carthage Eagles during a 3-2 win in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Madagascar on November 14, 2024, helping his team qualify for the final competition with this victory. To date, he has scored 3 goals in 7 selections, including 1 in a friendly match against Burkina Faso.
Unconventional Path
The 1.91m tall striker has an atypical career path. He began his career in Tunisia, starting at AS Degache, before moving to Palme de Tozeur, ES Métlaoui, and Al Najaf in Iraq, taking a long and winding road of 5 years before achieving professional success and reaching the national summit.
The Man of the Moment
In any case, Mastouri is the providential man up front, taking advantage of the decline of other attackers who have lost their place. Against Equatorial Guinea, a lot is expected of Mastouri to "kill off" the last hopes of Josete, Bicoro, and co. With the Equatoguineans having conceded 10 goals during these qualifiers and often struggling defensively, they will likely try to trap Mastouri, particularly on offside calls.
The Challenge Ahead
It's up to Mastouri to anticipate and showcase his sense of goal, being quick and agile to pave the way for a third consecutive qualification to the World Cup. This would be similar to the feat achieved in 1998, 2002, and 2006.
