Tunisia Manager Lamouchi Excludes Veteran Sassi from World Cup Squad

Tunisia manager Sabri Lamouchi has made a significant decision ahead of the 2026 World Cup, excluding experienced midfielder Ferjani Sassi from the 26-man squad. Sassi, a prominent figure in Tunisian football with 101 international appearances, will not feature in the tournament held in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. His omission is one of the key talking points from Lamouchi’s selection.

Veteran Defenders Also Miss Out

Alongside Sassi, defender Yassine Meriah, who boasts 95 caps for Tunisia, has also been left out. Both players were noticeably absent from Lamouchi's first two matches in charge – friendlies against Haiti and Canada earlier this year – signaling the manager's intent for squad renewal. Lamouchi, formerly manager of Cardiff City and Nottingham Forest, took over the Tunisian national team in January and has since been shaping his squad.

New Faces and Key Inclusions

The squad sees the inclusion of Rani Khedira, brother of 2014 World Cup winner Sami Khedira, who switched his national allegiance to Tunisia in March. Premier League talent Hannibal Mejbri from Burnley and Norwich City's Anis Ben Slimane are also part of the midfield contingent. Promising 21-year-old forward Khalil Ayari from Paris Saint-Germain, despite not yet featuring for PSG's first team, has earned a call-up, highlighting Lamouchi's focus on developing younger talent.

Key facts

Tunisia's World Cup Group Stage Fixtures

Tunisia is set to compete in Group F of the 2026 World Cup. Their campaign will kick off on June 15 against Sweden. Following this opening fixture, they will face Japan and the Netherlands in their subsequent group stage matches. The composition of the squad suggests Lamouchi is looking to blend experience with emerging talent to navigate a challenging group.

Squad Breakdown

The announced squad includes a mix of domestic and internationally based players. The goalkeeping department features Sabri Ben Hessen (Etoile Sahel), Abdelmouhib Chamakh (Club Africain), and Aymen Dahman (CS Sfaxien). The defensive lineup includes Ali Abdi (Nice), Dylan Bronn (Servette Geneva), and Montassar Talbi (Lorient) among others. Midfielders like Mortadha Ben Ouanes (Kasimpasa), Ismael Gharbi (FC Augsburg), and Ellyes Skhiri (Eintracht Frankfurt) will play crucial roles, while the forward line boasts Elias Achouri (FC Copenhagen), Firas Chaouat (Club Africain), and Sebastian Tounekti (Celtic). The decisions underscore a strategic shift by Lamouchi as he prepares Tunisia for the global tournament.

Fuente: BBC Sport Football RSS https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cy42jjj4gg4o?atmedium=RSS&atcampaign=rss