Tunisia's New Era: Chaabani's Changes for AFCON Qualifiers
Moine Chaabani has wasted no time putting his stamp on Tunisia. For the opening two rounds of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, the Eagles of Carthage head coach has named a squad that looks very different from the one that went to the 2026 World Cup – and he has not been shy about making big calls.
Tunisia face Uganda on 24 September before taking on Botswana on 28 September. Those games will launch a new cycle, and Chaabani has treated them exactly like that: as a reset.
Sassi and Maaloul headline the comeback trail
The headline is clear. Ferjani Sassi is back.
The midfielder, who once wore the captain’s armband during the Africa Cup of Nations and the Arab Cup, was left out of the World Cup squad. Now, after that high-profile absence, Chaabani has restored him to the national team, leaning again on his experience in the middle of the pitch.
He is not alone. Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane and Aissa Laidouni also return, giving Tunisia three recalled players currently active in the Qatari league. That trio instantly adds know-how and familiarity to a squad that has been heavily refreshed.
On the left flank, another pillar returns. Ali Maaloul is back after missing the World Cup, a notable change in a position that has long been a source of stability for Tunisia. His recall comes as Ali Abdi misses out. The Nice defender had apologised for controversial comments in which he said he was ready to skip the World Cup to help his club in the relegation play-offs, but his name is not on this list.
World Cup squad cut down
The price of renewal is clear. Only 14 players from the recent World Cup make this squad.
Some absences are enforced. Hannibal Mejbri misses out through injury, removing one of Tunisia’s most dynamic young options from the early qualifiers. Others are permanent. Rani Khedira and Elyes Skhiri have both retired from international duty, closing the chapter on two key figures in recent years.
Then come the coach’s decisions. Firas Chaouat, Dylan Bronn, Omar Rekik, Mohamed Haj Mahmoud, Mortadha Ben Ouanes and Elias Saad all drop out. For several of them, the World Cup now looks more like an endpoint than a springboard.
In their place, Chaabani has turned to new blood. Club Africain striker Mohamed Sadok Guidida receives his first call-up, as does Sami Chouchane of Dijon. Two fresh faces, two clear signals that places in this squad are no longer locked.
The overhaul is unmistakable. Familiar leaders return, but the core around them is being reshaped.
The 27-man 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.
Old guard, new faces, and a World Cup squad stripped back to its core. The message from Chaabani is unmistakable: reputations no longer guarantee a seat on the plane. The qualifiers against Uganda and Botswana will show whether this bold reset ignites Tunisia’s next era or opens up a new set of questions.
