The Tunisian Football Federation (FTF) has formally approached the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to request the reinstatement of Tunisia’s U20 national team in the upcoming U20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Egypt.
This follows Ivory Coast’s withdrawal from the tournament, creating a vacancy in the competition.
Tunisia Pushes for Reconsideration
The FTF argues that the vacancy left by Ivory Coast should be filled by a North African representative, given that Morocco and Egypt have already secured qualification through the Union of North African Football Federations (UNAF).
Tunisian officials believe their third-place finish in the UNAF qualifiers should earn them a spot in the tournament, especially as Ivory Coast is no longer participating.
The federation has submitted an official appeal to CAF, seeking a decision in their favor. Tunisia hopes that governing officials will consider their request and grant them entry into the competition.
Tunisia’s Path to the U20 AFCON
Tunisia’s U20 team was eliminated from qualification after a 2-1 defeat against Morocco in the UNAF Tournament, a key regional pathway to the U20 AFCON.
This loss meant they missed out on securing automatic qualification, leaving Morocco and Egypt as the region’s representatives.
With Ivory Coast pulling out of the competition, Tunisia now sees an opportunity to gain entry via administrative means rather than on-field qualification.
However, the final decision rests with CAF, which will determine whether Tunisia’s appeal holds merit.
Awaiting CAF’s Response
CAF has yet to issue a response to Tunisia’s request, and it remains uncertain whether the governing body will consider replacing Ivory Coast with another team or proceed with the tournament as planned.
If Tunisia is reinstated, it would be a significant boost for the nation’s youth football development, allowing the team to compete on the continental stage despite their earlier elimination. For now, the North African side must await CAF’s ruling on their appeal.
