The recent addition of Saber Distinguished to the final Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) roster for the Tunisian national team, following the exclusion of Mourtada Ben Yennas, has been met with joy and enthusiasm by the accomplished player.
The decision, orchestrated by Tunisia’s coach Jalal Al Qadri, was necessitated by unavoidable circumstances leading to the omission of Mourtada Ben Yennas.
Speaking to ON Time Sports, Saber Distinguished expressed his contentment, saying, “I am delighted to be part of the final squad for the Tunisian national team, always at the service of the team, ready to participate whenever called upon.”
Distinguished emphasized Tunisia’s substantial chances in the upcoming AFCON, stating, “Inshallah (God willing), Tunisia’s prospects will be significant in AFCON.
We will take each match and each step as it comes.”
Highlighting the collective strength of the Tunisian squad, Distinguished noted, “The Tunisian national team has distinctive elements, not just one star player.
There is Youssef Msakni, Yassine Meriah, Elias Skhiri, and many other talented individuals.”
Commenting on Tunisia’s playing style, the Zamalek striker remarked, “We play as a group in Tunisia, and the most important thing is to achieve the team’s goal in the end.”
When asked about the challenging task of predicting the teams that will make it to the semi-finals, Distinguished stated, “It’s difficult to determine the participants in the golden square now, but Inshallah, there will be Arab dominance, and more than one Arab team will make it to the semi-finals.”
Reflecting on his journey with Zamalek, Distinguished expressed his satisfaction, saying, “Of course, I am happy at Zamalek.
The board does not fall short in anything, and hopefully, their efforts will culminate in success.”
He continued, “Zamalek is a very prestigious club, and I take pride in being part of it, always competing for all titles.”
Distinguished concluded by acknowledging the importance of Ahmed Fattouh, stating, “Ahmed Fattouh is an important player at Zamalek, and I am pleased with his contract renewal.”
With 31 international appearances for Tunisia, Saber Distinguished has scored 10 goals.
Having participated in five AFCON matches, he managed to secure one goal.
Tunisia’s Eagles of Carthage will be led by the star Youssef Msakni, marking his eighth AFCON appearance, equaling the record held by Ahmed Hassan and Roger Milla.
The squad includes Ali Maaloul, the defender from Al Ahly, at the forefront, while Hamza Mathlouthi of Zamalek is notably absent.
Manchester United’s Hannibal Mejbri has been excluded from the Tunisian national team, and Ferjani Sassi, the Qatari club Al-Gharafa’s player, is also absent from the list.
Tunisia finds itself in Group One alongside Mali, South Africa, and Namibia.
The AFCON tournament is scheduled to take place in Ivory Coast from January 13 to February 11, featuring the participation of 24 teams for the third time after the 2019 and 2021 editions.
