Tunisia Overhaul: Chaabani Reintroduces Sassi and Maaloul

Moine Chaabani has wasted no time putting his stamp on Tunisia. For his first crack at the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, the Eagles of Carthage head coach has torn up much of the World Cup script and gone with a reshaped, re-energised squad.

Two big names are back in the fold. Ferjani Sassi and Ali Maaloul, both absent from the 2026 World Cup, return for the opening Group fixtures against Uganda on 24 September and Botswana on 28 September.

Sassi restored, Qatari trio reunited

Sassi’s recall jumps off the page. The midfielder, who has captained Tunisia at both the Africa Cup of Nations and the Arab Cup, was a notable omission from the World Cup campaign. Now Chaabani has brought him back, leaning again on his experience and personality in the middle of the pitch.

He is not alone. Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane and Aissa Laidouni also return, restoring a familiar spine. All three are active in the Qatari league, and all three now step back into a national-team setup that looks very different from the one that travelled to the World Cup.

Maaloul back, Abdi left out

On the left, Maaloul also makes his comeback after missing out on the World Cup. His return strengthens a defensive unit that has been heavily reworked.

Ali Abdi, though, does not make the cut. The Nice defender had apologised after comments that caused a storm in Tunisia, when he said he was ready to skip the World Cup to help his club in the relegation play-offs. Even with that apology on record, his name is not on Chaabani’s list.

World Cup core broken up

The break with the World Cup squad is stark. Only 14 players from that group survive into this new era.

Hannibal Mejbri is unavailable through injury. Rani Khedira and Elyes Skhiri have both stepped away from international duty, leaving sizeable gaps in midfield. A further group also drop out: Firas Chaouat, Dylan Bronn, Omar Rekik, Mohamed Haj Mahmoud, Mortadha Ben Ouanes and Elias Saad are all missing as Chaabani trims and reshapes.

The message is clear: reputations alone are no longer enough.

New blood and a different balance

The door is not just closing; it is opening elsewhere. Club Africain striker Mohamed Sadok Guidida receives his first senior call-up, as does Dijon's Sami Chouchane. Both now have a chance to stake a claim at the start of a new cycle rather than chasing it from behind.

Across the pitch, the list underlines the scale of change and the blend Chaabani wants.

• 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 faces return. Fresh ones arrive. The World Cup squad feels like a reference point now, not a template.

Uganda and Botswana will show quickly whether this bold reset gives Tunisia the jolt they need at the start of a new continental campaign.