Under the leadership of Jalel Kadri, Tunisia will begin their AFCON 2024 campaign in a few weeks.
In this article, we'll provide all the information you need to know about the Carthage Eagles' schedule, group and provisional squad.
For clarity's sake, this year's competition is officially named AFCON 2023 since it was initially scheduled to take place last year but was postponed until January-February 2024.
Tunisia's AFCON 2024 schedule
The Tunisian team's opponents in Group E are Mali, Namibia and South Africa. The Carthage Eagles will play their three group matches at the Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium (20,000 seats) located in Korhogo, Ivory Coast.
- January 16, 6 pm: Tunisia vs Namibia, Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium
- January 20, 9 pm: Tunisia vs Mali, Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium
- January 24, 6 pm: South Africa vs Tunisia, Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium
How did Tunisia qualify for AFCON 2024?
Tunisia faced Equatorial Guinea, Botswana and Libya in Group J of the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying rounds. They finished first with 13 points, and an honourable record of four wins, one draw and one defeat.
- Day 1: Tunisia (4-0) Equatorial Guinea
- Day 2: Botswana (0-0) Tunisia
- Day 3: Tunisia (3-0) Libya
- Day 4: Libya (0-1) Tunisia
- Day 5: Equatorial Guinea (1-0) Tunisia
- Day 6: Tunisia (3-0) Botswana
Tunisia's last 10 games before AFCON 2024
- Malawi (0-1) Tunisia – 2026 World Cup Qualifiers
- Tunisia (4-0) Sao Tome and Principe – 2026 World Cup Qualifiers
- Japan (2-0) Tunisia – Friendly
- South Korea (4-0) Tunisia – Friendly
- Egypt (1-3) Tunisia – Friendly
- Tunisia (3-0) Botswana – AFCON 2023 Qualifiers
- Algeria (1-1) Tunisia – Friendly
- Equatorial Guinea (1-0) Tunisia – AFCON 2023 Qualifiers
- Libya (0-1) Tunisia – AFCON 2023 Qualifiers
- Tunisia (3-0) Libya – AFCON 2023 Qualifiers
Can Tunisia hoist the AFCON title after 20 years?
Present during the last two World Cups (2018 and 2022), the Tunisian national team nevertheless struggle to perform at the continental level. The Eagles have not won the African Cup of Nations since 2004.
Twenty years later, lifting the most prestigious African trophy again would truly be something special for all football lovers in Tunisia. To do this however, it will be necessary to be sharper than during the last AFCON, where the Carthage Eagles were eliminated at the quarter-final stage by Burkina Faso (0-1).
Two years earlier, in Cameroon, the national team had reached the semi-finals (losing narrowly 0-1 against Senegal), which constitutes their best performance since the triumph of 2004.
On one hand, promising results (draw vs Algeria, victory vs Egypt) have raised the fans' hopes ahead of this tournament. On the other hand, some poor performances and a disappointing Asian tour have been a cause for concern.
Tunisia's coach: Jalel Kadri
Jalel Kadri took the reins of the team, replacing Mondher Kebaier following their failure at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations. Initially, on an interim basis, he managed to qualify the Eagles for the 2022 World Cup and, therefore, earned a long-term contract. The adventure in Qatar ended in the first round, but the team distinguished itself by beating France, future finalists, during the third group match (1-0).
Under his leadership, Tunisia also excelled in the AFCON 2024 qualifying rounds, finishing top of their group with 13 points. Since his arrival at the head of the national team, Kadri has had an honourable record of 11 victories, four draws and three defeats. Despite an unspectacular playing style, the 52-year-old technician seems to be the man for the job.
Player to watch: Hamza Jelassi
Hamza Jelassi earned his first cap in a friendly match against Libya in September 2019 at the age of 28 – an age when some professional footballers have already hung up their boots or are starting to look in the rearview mirror of their careers.
A key member of Etoile Sahel's Ligue 1 title-winning team, the 32 year old could be summoned by Jalel Kadri to feature in this tournament. The native of Tunis has a lot to bring to Tunisia's squad, on the defensive side. He's also capable of finding the net, with five goals in 15 games this season.
Tunisia's AFCON 2024 squad
Goalkeepers: Bechir Ben Said (US Monastir), Aymen Dhamen (Al Hazem), Mouez Hassen (Club Africain)
Defenders: Ali Abdi (Caen), Alaa Ghram (CS Sfaxien), Oussam Haddadi (Greuther Furth), Hamza Jelassi (Etoile Sahel), Wajdi Kechrida (Atromitos), Ali Maaloul (Al Ahly), Yassine Meriah (Esperance), Montassir Talbi (Lorient), Yan Valery (Angers)
Midfielders: Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane (Ferencvaros), Anis Ben Slimane (Sheffield United), Aissa Laidouni (Union Berlin), Hadj Mahmoud (Lugano), Hamza Rafia (Lecce), Ellyes Skhiri (Eintracht Frankfurt), Bassem Srarfi (Club Africain), Houssem Tka (Esperance),
Forwards: Elias Achouri (FC Copenhagen), Seifeddine Jaziri (Zamalek), Haythem Jouini (Stade Tunisien), Taha Yassine Khenissi (Kuwait SC), Sayfallah Ltaief (Winterthur), Youssef Msakni (Al Arabi), Naim Sliti (Al Ahli).
