Tunisia captain Elyes Skhiri retires from international football

Tunisia captain Elyes Skhiri has announced his retirement from international football at the age of 31, bringing an end to an 11-year career with the Eagles of Carthage.

The midfielder calls time on international football after more than a decade of service. Skhiri made 86 appearances for Tunisia and scored four goals during his international career. He also represented the North African nation at three FIFA World Cup tournaments and four Africa Cup of Nations editions.

The midfielder was an important figure for Tunisia over the years and eventually took on the responsibility of captaining the national team.

In a farewell message shared on social media, Skhiri expressed his pride at having represented his country and reflected on the special moments he experienced while wearing the Tunisia shirt.

“It is time for me to announce the end of my international career.

“Wearing this shirt and representing my country has been a source of immense pride and a great honour for me. The emotions, the moments we shared and all those memories will remain etched in my mind.

“The chance to represent my country in the biggest football competitions, through my participation in 4 editions of the Africa Cup of Nations and 3 editions of the World Cup, has been a privilege and an opportunity that will remain forever etched in my career.”

Skhiri’s decision brings to a close an international journey that began 11 years ago and saw him feature prominently for Tunisia across several major tournaments.

His three World Cup appearances and four Africa Cup of Nations campaigns underline the longevity of his international career, while his 86 caps place him among the more experienced players of his generation for the Eagles of Carthage.

At 31, Skhiri now turns his attention fully to the next chapter of his football career at club level, having decided that his time with the Tunisian national team has come to an end.