Chaabani Reshapes Tunisia Squad for AFCON 2027 Qualifiers
Moine Chaabani has wasted no time putting his stamp on Tunisia. For the opening rounds of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, the Eagles of Carthage head coach has torn up the World Cup script and gone with a bold, reshaped squad – one built on recalled leaders, bruised egos and fresh blood.
Tunisia face Uganda on 24 September and Botswana on 28 September, and the message from Chaabani is unmistakable: reputations no longer guarantee a seat on the plane.
Sassi, Maaloul and the Return of Authority
The headline is the comeback of Ferjani Sassi. Once the heartbeat of this team, the midfielder was left out of the 2026 World Cup despite having captained Tunisia at both the Africa Cup of Nations and the Arab Cup. Now he’s back, restored by a coach who clearly believes experience in the middle of the park will be crucial at the start of a new qualifying campaign.
He is not alone. Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane and Aissa Laidouni also return, meaning three players currently active in the Qatari league are back in national colours. It is a significant swing towards proven international know-how, especially in central areas where Tunisia struggled for control at times on the biggest stage.
On the left flank, another familiar face reappears. Ali Maaloul, absent from the World Cup squad, is recalled to reinforce a defensive line that has been heavily reworked. His delivery and leadership from the back offer an immediate upgrade in a department that has lost several regulars.
Ali Abdi Left Out, World Cup Core Broken Up
If Maaloul’s return underlines forgiveness, Ali Abdi’s omission underlines the opposite. The Nice defender does not make the cut, despite having publicly apologised for comments that caused uproar in Tunisia when he suggested he was ready to skip the World Cup to help his club in relegation play-offs. The apology came; the recall did not. Chaabani has drawn a clear line.
The break with the World Cup squad runs deeper than one left-back. Only 14 players from the recent tournament survive this reset. The casualty list is long.
Hannibal Mejbri misses out through injury. Rani Khedira and Elyes Skhiri have stepped away from international duty altogether, leaving a sizeable hole in midfield. Firas Chaouat, Dylan Bronn, Omar Rekik, Mohamed Haj Mahmoud, Mortadha Ben Ouanes and Elias Saad also drop out as Chaabani clears space for a new core.
This is not a gentle evolution. It is a clean cut.
New Faces, New Energy
Into that space step two debutants. Club Africain striker Mohamed Sadok Guidida earns his first call-up, rewarded for his domestic form and handed a chance to stake a claim in an attack that has lacked a ruthless, penalty-box presence. Alongside him, Dijon's Sami Chouchane receives his maiden invitation in midfield, a nod towards the future as Tunisia look to refresh their options between the lines.
They join a group that blends the old guard with emerging names. The squad reads like a blueprint for a team in transition, still anchored by key figures but unmistakably moving in a new direction.
The Squad in Full
- Goalkeepers: Aymen Dahmen, Sabri Ben Hassen, Mouhib Chamekh.
- Defence: Yann Valery, Moatez Neffati, Adam Arous, Mohamed Nasraoui, Montassar Talbi, Alaa Ghram, Mohamed Amine Ben Hmida, Amine Charni, Ali Maaloul.
- Midfield: Ferjani Sassi, Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane, Aissa Laidouni, Hamza Rafia, Sami Chouchane, Ismail Gharbi, Anis Ben Slimane.
- Attack: Khalil Ayari, Seifallah Ltaief, Elyes Achouri, Rayan Layouni, Sebastien Tounekti, Hamza Mastouri, Sadok Guidida.
Veterans return. Mainstays disappear. Debutants arrive. For Tunisia, these opening qualifiers are no longer just about six points – they are the first hard test of Chaabani’s new order.
