The Tunisian coach revealed on Thursday the list of players selected to play in the African Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast (January 13 – February 11). Manchester United attacking midfielder Hannibal Mejbri is notably absent from the final list of players selected by Jalel Kadri.
International and Manchester United player Hannibal Mejbri was not selected to play in the next CAN 2024 under the colors of Tunisia.
International and Manchester United player Hannibal Mejbri was not selected to play in the next CAN 2024 under the colors of Tunisia. © Hassan Ammar, AP
No African Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast for Hannibal Mejbri. The Manchester United attacking midfielder was not selected for the next CAN 2024 by Jalel Kadri, who unveiled, on Thursday, December 28, the list of players selected to defend the colors of Tunisia.
Aged 20 and returning from loan from Birmingham last summer, Mejbri has only played nine matches in all competitions since the start of the season (one goal, no assist) under the leadership of Erik ten Hag.
“Hannibal told me that he did not feel ready for the CAN because he is going through a difficult situation at the club,” explained Jalel Kadri at a press conference, about the man who has 27 caps with the Carthage Eagles.
Montpellier’s Wahbi Khazri (74 caps, 25 goals) will also not play in the CAN after announcing his international retirement in December 2022.
Tunisia has won the event only once, at home in 2004.
Tunisia is in Group E with Mali, South Africa and Namibia.
The selection of Tunisia
Goalkeepers: Aymen Dahmen (Al-Hazem/KSA), Mouez Hassen (Club Africain), Béchir Ben Said (US Monastir)
Defenders: Ali Abdi (Caen/FRA/L2), Ali Maaloul (Al-Ahly/EGY), Wajdi Kechrida (Atromitos Athens/GRE), Yassine Meriah (Espérance), Montassar Talbi (FC Lorient/FRA), Hamza Jelassi (Etoile du Sahel), Yan Valery (Angers SCO/FRA/L2), Oussama Haddadi (SpVgg Fürth/GER/D2), Alaa Ghram (Sfaxien Sports Club)
Midfielders: Elyes Skhiri (FC Cologne/GER), Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane (Ferencvaros/HUN), Aïssa Laïdouni (Union Berlin/GER), Houssem Teka (Espérance Tunis), Hamza Rafia (US Lecce/ITA), Mohamed Haj Mahmoud (FC Lugano), Anis Ben Slimane (Brøndby/DEN)
Forwards: Youssef Msakni (Al-Arabi SC/QAT), Naïm Sliti (Al-Ahli/QAT), Taha Yassine Khenissi (Kuwait SC/KUW), Haythem Jouini (Tunisian Stadium), Seifallah Letaief (FC Winterthur/SUI), Bassem Serarfi (African Club), Elias Achouri (FC Copenhagen/DEN), Mortadha Ben Ouanes (Kasimpasa SK/TUR)
