AFCON 2015: Anis Ben Hatira Quashes Rumours of Tunisia Withdrawal
Tunisian international Anis Ben Hatira has moved swiftly to deny rumours that he will miss the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations, insisting he remains fully committed to representing his country despite recent injury struggles.
The Hertha Berlin midfielder was named in Tunisia’s provisional squad for the 2015 tournament in Equatorial Guinea, but speculation had since mounted over his availability. The 26-year-old, who has faced a challenging period marked by injury and physical exhaustion, took to social media to set the record straight.
“All those who know me, know that my dream is to play for my country,” Ben Hatira wrote on his official Facebook page. “I really care about this tournament, especially after having to miss out twice before.”
The German-born midfielder, who switched international allegiance to Tunisia after representing Germany at youth level, acknowledged that recent months have taken a toll on his body.
“These last few weeks have been very difficult. I had reached the limits of my body. I could no longer play without painkillers—my toe had to be anesthetised before every match,” he revealed.
However, Ben Hatira clarified that he is not withdrawing from the tournament, but rather taking the winter break to recover fully.
“It’s only been a few days since I’ve felt like myself again. This break is doing me good, and I’m working to be match fit. I want to play for Tunisia and, God willing (InshAllah), I hope to be ready to contribute.”
While he may miss the early stages of Tunisia’s pre-tournament preparations, Ben Hatira’s statement makes it clear that he has not ruled himself out of the competition.
Tunisia, under Belgian coach Georges Leekens, are among the teams aiming to make a deep run in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, which begins on 17 January.
