Jalal Al-Qadri, the head coach of the Tunisian national team, has officially announced the squad that will participate in the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations 2023, scheduled to take place in Ivory Coast.
The tournament is set to kick off on January 13, 2024, at the Hassan Wattara Stadium in Abidjan, the capital of Ivory Coast.
The four-week-long competition will conclude on February 11, 2024.
Tunisia finds itself in Group F alongside Mali, South Africa, and Namibia in the Africa Cup of Nations.
The squad revealed notable inclusions and exclusions, notably welcoming Ali Maâloul from Al Ahly while excluding Hanbali Al-Maghrabi of Manchester United.
Saif Al-Jaziri and Hamza Al-Mathlouthi, both players for Zamalek, were also absent from the list.
Additionally, Ferjani Sassi of Al Gharafa in Qatar did not make the cut.
Here is the finalized list for Tunisia’s squad in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations:
Goalkeepers:
1. Ayman Dhaouman
2. Bashir Ben Saeed
3. Mouez Hassan
Defenders:
1. Ali Maâloul
2. Montassar Talbi
3. Yassin Meriah
4. Ali Al-Abdi
5. Osama Al-Haddadi
6. Hamza Al-Jelassi
7. Alaa Ghram
8. Yan Valéry
9. Wajdi Kshrid
Midfielders:
1. Anis Ben Slimane
2. Mohamed Ali Ben Ramadan
3. Hossam Taqwa
4. Hamza Rafia
5. Elias Al-Sakhiri
6. Issa Al-Iedoni
7. Mohamed Belhaj Mahmoud
Forwards:
1. Youssef Msakni
2. Haythem Jouini
3. Taha Yassin Al-Khnesi
4. Saif Allah Al-Latif
5. Bassam Al-Sararfi
6. Naim Al-Seliti
7. Mortada Ben Ounis
8. Elias Al-Ashouri
This announcement highlights the strategic choices made by Coach Al-Qadri, who emphasized that decisions were based on the players’ readiness for the Africa Cup of Nations rather than sentimental considerations.
The team aims to defend its chances in Ivory Coast and contribute to the pride of Tunisian football, as they did in the recent World Cup in Qatar.