CAN 2023 (Q): the list of Tunisia against Botswana and Egypt

Tunisia’s national coach, Jalel Kadri, revealed his list of players selected for the September 2023 gathering. A group of 26 Carthage Eagles with one returning player.

Tunisia will also host the international break in September 2023. The Carthage Eagles will face Botswana on the 7th of this month at the Radès stadium, in the 6th day of the CAN 2023 qualifiers, before facing Egypt in Cairo on 12 in a prestigious friendly match. The national coach, Jalel Kadri, unveiled the list of 26 players who will take part in these matches on Thursday.

In the absence of real issues, his team having already qualified for the final phase of the African Cup of Nations, the Tunisian technician gave three new dual nationals a chance. They are Sami Chouchane, Elias Saad and Anas Haj Mohamed. At only 19 years old, the first player plays with the Brighton reserve.

The midfielder was once a teammate of promising Hannibal Mejbri at AC Boulogne Billancourt, and this year he shone at the U20 Africa Cup of Nations as well as the U20 World Cup. Winger Elias Saad, meanwhile, was born in Germany and plays for St. Pauli, while Anas Haj Mohamed plays for Parma in Italy.

Alongside these new faces, we notice the presence of the former Olympique Lyonnais player, Hamza Rafia, who had not been called up to the national team since CAN 2021. His good performances at the start of the season with Lecce gave him have earned this return to the nest of the Tunisian Eagles. On the other hand, the globalists Drager and Anis Ben Slimane were left aside, just like Khaoui and Laabidi.

The team’s executives, such as Msakni, Talbi, Laidouni and Skhiri, are of course part of these two meetings which promise to add a touch of excellence to Tunisia’s preparation for CAN 2023, the phase of which final is scheduled from January 13 to February 11, 2024 in Ivory Coast.

Tunisia’s list against Botswana and Egypt

Guardians : Aymen Dahmene (Al Hazem), Bechir Ben Said (US Monastirienne), Mouez Hassen (African Club).

Defenders : Alaa Ghram (CS Sfaxien), Ali Abdi (Caen), Ali Maaloul (Al Ahly), Montassar Talbi (Lorient), Nader Ghandri (Ajman), Oussema Haddadi (Greuther Fürth), Wajdi Kechrida (Atromitos), Yassine Meriah (Espérance from Tunis), Yann Valery (Angers).

Midfielders : Ellyes Skhiri (Eintracht Frankfurt), Hannibal Mejbri (Manchester United), Hamza Rafia (Lecce), Aissa Laidouni (Union Berlin), Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane (Ferencvaros), Samy Chouchane (Brighton).

Attackers : Ali Youssef (BK Häcken), Anas Haj Mohamed (Parma), Elias Achouri (FC Copenhagen), Elias Saad (St. Pauli), Haythem Jouini (Stade Tunisien), Omar Layouni (BK Häcken), Sayfallah Ltaief (Winterthur), Youssef Msakni (Al Arabi).