National Team Coach Sami Trabelsi Looks to Turn the Page on Arab Cup and Shine in Africa Cup of Nations (Morocco 2025)
National team coach Sami Trabelsi emphasized the need to move on from the Arab Cup and show a better face in the Africa Cup of Nations (Morocco 2025). Speaking at a press conference on Thursday to announce the list of players called up for the continental competition (December 21 - January 18), Trabelsi specified that the elimination from the first round of the Arab Cup will not affect the performance of his players or their morale in the upcoming continental tournament.
Each Competition Has Its Own Specificities
Trabelsi explained that each competition has its own technical specificities and general context, citing the example of the Algerian team, which was eliminated in the first round of the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon after being crowned champions of the 2021 Arab Cup.
Selection Criteria
According to Trabelsi, the list of 28 players was established based on precise criteria, including:
- Regular participation of the called-up players in their clubs
- Full availability
- Ability to bring added value to the group and contribute positively to the upcoming African adventure
- Adaptation of the available group to the needs of the national team at individual and collective levels, both technically and tactically, throughout the competition phases
Goalkeeper Selection
Regarding the decision to call up four goalkeepers, Trabelsi justified his choice by explaining that he prefers to have at least three options for each position. He therefore opted to add Sabri Ben Hassan as a fourth option, in addition to the Arab Cup trio (Aymen Dahmène, Bechir Ben Saïd, and Noureddine Farhati), in anticipation of any technical or health issues during the tournament.
Promising Players
Trabelsi stated that he has drawn the outlines of a group composed of the players he considers most deserving and capable of bringing added value compared to others. He added that the time has not yet come for a number of promising elements to join the ranks of the "Eagles of Carthage", such as Salim Bouasker, goalkeeper of AS Roma, or Khalil Ayari, winger of Paris Saint-Germain.
Experience and Maturity
Trabelsi praised the two players, describing them as the future of the selection and confirming that they possess important technical capabilities. However, he indicated that they need to acquire more experience, maturity, and assert their place within their respective teams.
Risk of Integrating Young Players
"Taking the risk of integrating certain young elements into such demanding meetings, without them having notable prior experience with the A team, could, in his estimation, harm the rest of their football career," he added.
Omissions
In the same vein, Trabelsi added that it was not possible to include midfielder Anis Ben Slimane in the list, indicating that he had spoken with him to explain the reasons for his absence, which are mainly due to his prolonged absence from the fields due to an injury contracted with his club, Norwich City, playing in the English Championship.
Performance and Merit
For the technician, it was necessary to do without a number of elements that were not performing, without naming them. Similarly, the Arab Cup was an opportunity for certain elements who scored points and earned the merit of wearing the national jersey in upcoming meetings, such as Mohamed Ben Ali and Houssem Tka, as well as Ali Maâloul, Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane, and Seifeddine Jaziri.
Equity and Merit
Preaching the motto of "Equity towards the deserving", Trabelsi added that it was decided to opt for the integration of new elements who have recently attracted attention and imposed their names, such as defender Adem Arous, praising his performance and regularity within his club Kasımpaşa SK, playing in the Turkish first division.
Preparation and Objectives
The coach stated that the FIFA announcement to postpone the release date of players to join their selections until December 15 in preparation for the Africa Cup of Nations will not disrupt the preparation process, affirming that most players will join the group before December 13 at the latest. Regarding the announced objective for the Africa Cup of Nations participation, Sami Trabelsi affirmed that the competition will be approached step by step and match by match, with the first goal of passing the first round (group stage) and then entering the direct elimination phases with the ambition of going as far as possible in the tournament.
