Many at times the Tunisians continue to lead on the continent in Club Football but the National team, the Carthage Eagles have found it hard to add to their only Africa Cup of Nations trophy they won 15 years ago on home soil.
The Tunisians have made 19 appearances at the Afcon, their first came in the 1962 edition hosted by Ethiopia, with their only triumph coming in 2004 when they hosted it.
Alain Giresse has a huge task at hand to turn potential into greatness, his 22 man squad is definitely full of potential and it’s up to him to harness it properly. Giresse has put his faith in young energetic players to do his bidding.
The North Africans will be the youngest team at Afcon 2019 with the average age of 24. The youngest player is Marc Lamti the Bayer Leverkusen teenager at 18 years of age while the oldest being defender Rami Bedoui and goalkeeper Farouk Ben Moustapha at 29 years of age.
Bassem Srarfi the Nice Midfielder is only 21, CS Sfaxien Midfielder Nassim Hnid is 22 years and so is SC Paderborn defender Mohamed Drager. Sahel defender Wajdi Kechrida is only 23 years old, while goalkeeper Mouez Hassen and defender Ayman Ben Mohamed are both 24 years of age.
Giresse’s men were drawn in Group E alongside Mali, Mauritania and Angola. The Nations Cup, which has been expanded to 24 teams, will take place in Egypt from 21 June to 19 July.
Tunisia yesterday secured a 2-1 win a a Pre-Afcon match against Burundi and with that, it gives them some momentum as they prepare to face Angola in their first game at the New Suez Stadium on Monday 24 June.
These young players have the ability to rule Africa once again. Time is now for these current set of players to soar in Egypt and rule the skies once again.
Full Squad
Goalkeepers: Farouk Ben Mustapha (Al Shabab), Mouez Hassen (OGC Nice), Mouez Ben Chrifia (ES Tunis)
Defenders: Mohamed Drager (SC Paderborn), Rami Bedoui (Al Feiha), Yassine Meriah (Olympiakos), Dylan Bronn (The Gantoise), Oussama Haddadi (Ettifaq), Karim Aouadi (ES Sahel), Nassim Hnid (CS Sfaxien), Wajdi Kechrida (ES Sahel), Ayman Ben Mohamed (ES Tunis)
Midfielders: Ellyes Skhiri (HSC Montpellier), Ferjani Sassi (Zamalek SC), Naïm Sliti (Dijon), Bassem Srarfi (OGC Nice), Ghaylen Chaalali (ES Tunis), Mark Lamti (Bayer Leverkusen), Youssef Msakni (KAS Eupen)
Forwards: Wahbi Khazri (Saint-Etienne), Anice Badri (ES Tunis), Firas Chaouat (CS Sfaxien), Yassine Khenissi (ES Tunis).
