New head coach Sabri Lamouchi has announced Tunisia's 26-man World Cup squad, making the brutal decision to drop captain Ferjani Sassi and key defender Yassine Meriah. The decision signals a bold new direction for the North African side as they prepare for this summer's tournament.
Major Omissions
Sassi, who has 101 caps, and Meriah, just five short of a century, were both omitted and are now set to miss the World Cup. Lamouchi, appointed in January after Sami Trabelsi's dismissal following Tunisia's Africa Cup of Nations last-16 exit, had already overhauled the squad for his first two matches in March. The former Nottingham Forest and Cardiff City manager did not reveal whether those friendlies were to test alternative options or build a new-look side.
Youth and Experience Blend
Friday's squad suggests a mix of youth and experience, with surprise call-ups for 21-year-old Khalil Ayari and teenager Rayan Elloumi. Ayari, signed by Paris St Germain, is yet to make their first team, while Elloumi has only two MLS starts for Vancouver Whitecaps. Canadian-born Elloumi, 18, played for the World Cup co-hosts in a friendly against Guatemala earlier this year.
The squad also includes 32-year-old midfielder Rani Khedira, brother of 2014 World Cup winner Sami Khedira. Khedira had previously rejected Tunisia but switched his footballing nationality in March, debuting for the North Africans.
World Cup Campaign
Tunisia are set to compete at a seventh World Cup and have been placed in Group F with Sweden, Japan, and the Netherlands. They will face Sweden first on 14 June.
Tunisia Squad in Full
- Goalkeepers: Sabri Ben Hessen (Etoile Sahel), Abdelmouhib Chamakh (Club Africain), Aymen Dahman (CS Sfaxien)
- Defenders: Ali Abdi (Nice), Adem Arous (Kasimpasa), Mohamed Amine Ben Hamida (Esperance), Dylan Bronn (Servette Geneva), Raed Chikhaoui (US Monastir), Moutaz Neffati (Norrkoping), Omar Rekik (NK Maribor), Montassar Talbi (Lorient), Yan Valery (Young Boys Berne)
- Midfielders: Mortadha Ben Ouanes (Kasimpasa), Anis Ben Slimane (Norwich City), Ismael Gharbi (FC Augsburg), Rani Khedira (Union Berlin), Mohamed Hadj Mahmoud (Lugano), Hannibal Mejbri (Burnley), Ellyes Skhiri (Eintracht Frankfurt)
- Forwards: Elias Achouri (FC Copenhagen), Khalil Ayari (Paris St Germain), Firas Chaouat (Club Africain), Rayan Elloumi (Vancouver Whitecaps), Hazem Mastouri (Dynamo Makhachkala), Elias Saad (Hannover 96), Sebastian Tounekti (Celtic)
