Tunisia's Bold AFCON 2027 Qualifiers Reset Under Chaabani

Tunisia are not easing into the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. They are starting with a reset.

Head coach Moine Chaabani has unveiled a dramatically reshaped squad for the opening Group fixtures against Uganda on 24 September and Botswana on 28 September, a list that tears up much of the 2026 World Cup template and brings back some big, familiar names.

Sassi and Maaloul Back at the Heart of It

The headline: Ferjani Sassi is back.

Once the captain in both the Africa Cup of Nations and the Arab Cup, the midfielder was a surprise absentee from the 2026 World Cup. Chaabani has now restored him to the fold, a clear signal that experience and leadership are once again central to Tunisia’s plans.

He is not the only returnee. Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane and Aissa Laidouni also come back into the squad, meaning three players currently active in the Qatari league are reinstated at the core of the national team.

On the left flank, another pillar returns. Ali Maaloul, omitted from the World Cup squad, is recalled in defence. His comeback underlines just how sharply Chaabani has pivoted from the group that went to the global tournament.

Abdi Left Out as Controversy Lingers

One notable absentee is Ali Abdi. The Nice defender does not make the cut, despite having apologised for remarks that caused uproar in Tunisia, when he publicly stated he was ready to miss the World Cup to help his club in relegation play-offs. His omission stands out in a list that otherwise leans heavily on reconciliation and fresh starts.

World Cup Core Cut Down

The scale of the overhaul is stark. Only 14 players from the recent World Cup squad survive this first selection for AFCON 2027 qualifying.

Some changes were forced. Hannibal Mejbri misses out through injury. Rani Khedira and Elyes Skhiri have both stepped away from international duty, closing important chapters in Tunisia’s midfield story.

Others have simply been moved on. Firas Chaouat, Dylan Bronn, Omar Rekik, Mohamed Haj Mahmoud, Mortadha Ben Ouanes and Elias Saad all drop out as Chaabani trims and reshapes the group.

The message is clear: reputations no longer guarantee a place.

New Blood for a New Cycle

Amid the returns, there is room for new faces. Club Africain striker Mohamed Sadok Guidida earns a first-ever call-up, as does Sami Chouchane of Dijon. Both step into a dressing room in transition, with a real chance to stake a claim early in the qualifying campaign.

The blend is deliberate: seasoned internationals brought back into the fold, surrounded by hungry debutants and a smaller core of World Cup survivors. For Chaabani, this is not a gentle evolution. It is a reset designed to hit immediately in competitive matches.

Tunisia Squad for AFCON 2027 Qualifiers vs Uganda and Botswana

• Goalkeepers: Aymen Dahmen, Sabri Ben Hassen, Mouhib Chamekh
• Defence: Yann Valery, Moatez Neffati, Adam Arous, Mohamed Nasraoui, Montassar Talbi, Alaa Ghram, Mohamed Amine Ben Hmida, Amine Charni, Ali Maaloul
• Midfield: Ferjani Sassi, Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane, Aissa Laidouni, Hamza Rafia, Sami Chouchane, Ismail Gharbi, Anis Ben Slimane
• Attack: Khalil Ayari, Seifallah Ltaief, Elyes Achouri, Rayan Layouni, Sebastien Tounekti, Hamza Mastouri, Sadok Guidida

Familiar leaders restored. World Cup names cut loose. New faces thrown straight into the fire. Tunisia’s AFCON journey begins with a bold gamble: that sweeping change now will pay off long before 2027 comes into view.