#19. Tunisia 🇹🇳
Population: 11,708,370
Nickname: Eagles of Carthage
Appearances: 21st
Last Appearance: 2021
Coach: Jalel Kadri (Tunisia)
Best AFCON results: winners (2004)
Skipper: Youssef Msakni
Player to watch: Ali Maaloul
Region: UNAF
CAF Rankings: 3
FIFA Rankings: 28
Most caps: Radhi Jaidi (105)
Top scorer: Issam Jemaa (36)
Tunisia will make their 16th consecutive AFCON appearance {21st overall}. This is an enviable record as qualifying for the tournament consecutively has even been a huge task for some of the big boys.
Tunisia is ranked 22nd by FIFA and 3rd by CAF. It shows how wonderful the Eagles of Carthage have been in the last 24 months.
Tunisia topped their group in the qualification for the AFCON on head-to-head over Equatorial Guinea after winning 13 points from a possible 18.
Two wins from the two opening fixtures for the FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Sao Tome and Principe (4-0) and Malawi (1-0) were excellent.
Pressing monster Hannibal Mejbri declined a call-up to the AFCON 2023 squad because he feels he is in a difficult moment at Manchester United now.
Perennial winner Ali Maaloul is expected to lead the Tunisians in the Ivory Coast with his vast experience.
Jalel Kadri’s side has immense experience at this level so qualifying from a group alongside South Africa, Namibia and Mali won’t be a huge problem albeit they are facing difficult teams.
Tunisia might not be among the top 5 teams to win the 2023 AFCON but they will give any opposition a tough competition on any day.
The Core of the Team
Bechir Ben Said has been the number one keeper in the last two games for Tunisia so he is expected to continue.
Montassar Talbi and Yassine Meriah will continue their excellent partnership in Tunisia’s defence.
Aissa Laidouni and Slimane will be the first-choice midfielders.
Msakni, Sliti and Elias Achouri are expected to lead the attack.
Probable 11
4-3-3
Bechir Ben Said
Kechrida, Meriah, Talbi, Maaloul,
Laidouni, Skhiri, Ben Slimane
Sliti, Msakni, Achouri
Notable Legends
Radhi Jaidi, Issame Jemaa, Hatem Trabelsi, Francileudo Santos, Ali Boumnijel, Saif-Eddine Khaoui, Rami Kaib, Ali Maaloul, Nader Ghandri
Expectations: Quarter-finals
Fixtures
Tunisia v Namibia
Tunisia v Mali
South Africa v Tunisia
