Tunisia resume preparations for 2021 AFCON qualifiers

Mondher Kebaier, head coach of the Tunisian national soccer team

Thursday Jun 11, 2020. 12:00

The Tunisia national team has started training amidst the coronavirus pandemic which has led to the suspension of football in the country.

The Carthage Eagles head coach Mondher Kebaier called up 26 players for a two-batch training camp which started on June 8 and it will end on June 21.

The majority of the players in the national team are based at home and they ply their trade in the Tunisian Ligue Professionnelle 1 which has been suspended since mid-March 2020.

The North African giants will take part in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers when international football resumes.

Kebaier explained that the aim is to ensure that the players are ready both physically and mentally.

“Many players came to Tunisia in March and were left with no official training,” Kebaier told the Tunisian Football Federation website.

“We wanted to seize this opportunity to set up a two-stage training camp for the national team to get the players in the best physical and tactical shape.

“We want our players to be prepared both physically and mentally. We haven’t seen them together since November 2019 so it’s crucial that when the activities resume, we are well prepared on every aspect.”

Players in Tunisia camp:

Farouk Ben Mustapha, Moez Ben Cherifia, Wajdi Kechrida, Saddem Ben Aziza, Nessim Hnid, Mortadha Ben Wanness, Ferjani Sassi, Mohamed amine Ben Amor, Mohamed Ali Ben rodhane, Naim Sliti, Fakhreddine Ben Youssef, Saad Bgir and Bassem Srarfi.

Players invited for the second batch of training from June 16 to June 21 are Atef Dkhili, Aymen Dahmene, Hamza Mathlouthi, Zied Boughattass, Hani Amamou, Skander Laabidi, Houssem Dagdoug, Mohamed Methnani, Ahmed Khlil, Yessine Khenissi, Mohamed Ali Ben Hammouda, Yessine Chammakhi and Firas Belarbi.