In an interview with the TAP agency, national coach Sami Trabelsi defended the list called for the Arab Cup in Qatar, affirming that the technical management retained the most ready players, while revealing that the absence of young Fadi Tayachi is due to an injury. He also justified the priority given to Hazem Mastouri and Firas Chaouat over Seifeddine Jaziri.
Selection, injuries and sporting hierarchy
Sami Trabelsi stressed that the technical staff remains best able to assess the real state of fitness of the players and their ability to bring added value to the national team. According to him, the selected list covers the needs of the team in all positions, even if several players stood out during the last day of the championship.
He indicated that Fadi Tayachi, revelation of the U17 World Cup, could have been part of the group but that his injury prevented his integration for this gathering.
Concerning the goalkeepers, Trabelsi recalled that Aymen Dahman, Béchir Ben Saïd and Noureddine Farhati were selected because of their confirmed level, stressing that it was not possible to exclude one of them nor to expand the group, despite the remarkable performances of Sabri Ben Hassan with Étoile du Sahel.
The Jaziri case and competition in attack
Asked about the absence of Zamalek striker Seifeddine Jaziri, the coach acknowledged that the latter has often performed well in the selection, but that the current state of form of Hazem Mastouri and Firas Chaouat justifies their retention without expanding the position to three players occupying the same offensive function.
Trabelsi explained that several internationals will join the group in Qatar on different dates due to their club commitments, citing in particular the Esperance players, as well as Oussama Haddadi, Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane and Mohamed Haj Mahmoud, whose release the club only accepted after the first match.
The Khalil Ayari file
Regarding Khalil Ayari, Paris Saint-Germain striker, Trabelsi specified that an agreement was reached with the Parisian club for him to continue his presence in Paris, this period being decisive in determining his future – remaining at PSG or leaving on loan. Therefore, his sporting interests required him not to join the selection for this grouping.
Upcoming deadlines
- Arab Cup – Qatar (December 1 to 18, 2025)
Group A: Tunisia – Qatar – winner Libya / Palestine – winner Syria / South Sudan
- African Cup of Nations – Morocco (December 21, 2025 to January 18, 2026)
Group C: Tunisia – Nigeria – Tanzania – Uganda
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