AFCON 2025: Samir Trabelsi bets on continuity to revive Tunisia
Sami Trabelsi unveiled a 28-player squad mixing returning leaders, defensive stability and targeted tweaks, with the ambition of bringing the Carthage Eagles back to the forefront at AFCON 2025.
SUMMARY
Tunisia revealed a 28-player list for AFCON 2025, which opens in a few days in Morocco. For this first major appointment of the Sami Trabelsi era, the Tunisian coach chose to rely on an already well-drilled group while reintegrating key players whose absence was felt during recent outings.
The return of Ellyes Skhiri and Hannibal Mejbri is one of the strong signals in this list. The two midfielders, essential to Tunisia’s game structure, restore balance and creativity to a team that will have to face a tough group alongside Uganda, Nigeria and Tanzania. In goal, Trabelsi retained the quartet Dahmen – Ben Saïd – Ben Hassen – Farhati, a symbol of deliberate continuity.
At the back, stalwarts Meriah, Talbi, Bronn and Maâloul remain indispensable, joined by Nader Ghandri and Adem Arous, returning after missing the last tournament. In midfield, Sassi, Ben Romdhane and Tka keep the staff’s trust, while up front Achouri, Saad, Tounekti and Jaziri will lead an attack that is renewed but complementary.
Some notable absences, including Layouni and Dendani, reflect tactical choices assumed by the coach. Now, the Carthage Eagles enter their final preparation phase with the ambition of going far in Morocco.
Tunisia’s final squad:
Gardiens de but
- Aymen Dahmen (CS Sfaxien)
- Bechir Ben Saïd (Espérance de Tunis)
- Sabri Ben Hassen (Étoile du Sahel)
- Noureddine Farhati (Stade Tunisien)
Défenseurs
- Yan Valery (Sheffield Wednesday)
- Mohamed Ben Ali (Espérance de Tunis)
- Dylan Bronn (Servette FC)
- Montassar Talbi (FC Lorient)
- Yassine Meriah (Espérance de Tunis)
- Adem Arous (Kasimpasa)
- Nader Ghandri (Akhmat Grozny)
- Mortadha Ben Ouanes (Kasimpasa)
- Ali Abdi (OGC Nice)
- Ali Maaloul (CS Sfaxien)
Milieux de terrain
- Ferjani Sassi (Al Gharafa)
- Ellyes Skhiri (Eintracht Francfort)
- Houssem Tka (Espérance de Tunis)
- Mohamed Hadj Mahmoud (FC Lugano)
- Ismael Gharbi (Augsbourg)
- Hannibal Mejbri (Burnley FC)
- Naim Sliti (Al Shamal)
- Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane (Al Ahly)
Attaquants
- Elias Saad (Augsbourg)
- Elias Achouri (FC Copenhague)
- Hazem Mastouri (Dinamo Makhachkala)
- Sébastien Tounekti (Celtic)
- Firas Chaouat (Club Africain)
- Seifeddine Jaziri (Zamalek)
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