Moeine Al-Chaâbani, the technical director of the Tunisian national team, affirmed that physical readiness, mental presence, and performance consistency will be the key criteria for selecting the Carthage Eagles squad in the coming period, particularly for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
According to Mosaique FM radio, Al-Chaâbani clarified during a press conference held today, Wednesday, that the Tunisian national team will begin its qualifying campaign with a match against Uganda on September 24 at the Hammadi Agrebi Stadium in Radès, before traveling to face Botswana on September 29 in Gaborone, as part of Group Eight competitions.
The Tunisian coach emphasized that the door to the national team will remain open to all Tunisian players, whether in the local league or abroad, confirming that names, experience, and age will not be the decisive factors in selections.
Al-Chaâbani stated that the technical staff will rely on clear criteria, most notably physical readiness, performance consistency, and technical level, alongside the players' mental state. He noted that the upcoming phase requires efforts to restore the national team's confidence and prestige on the African stage.
He pointed out that leading the national team will not be an easy task given the difficult circumstances currently facing Tunisian football, affirming that overcoming the pessimism following participation in the 2026 World Cup and restoring the team's strong presence at the continental level are among his primary objectives.
He added that the disappointing results in the World Cup have left psychological effects on the players, making the mental aspect a crucial element in the work during the upcoming phase, especially since he believes the current squad possesses good potential and is capable of delivering better performances.
Al-Chaâbani confirmed that the national team must first secure its path to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations finals before raising ambitions and working to improve Tunisia's global ranking and restore its continental standing. He noted that the team's last appearance in the Africa Cup of Nations semifinals was during the 2019 Egypt edition.
He explained that responsibility for success or failure with the national team is collective and not solely that of the technical director. He indicated that the resumption of the Tunisian league competitions will help the technical staff assess the physical, technical, and tactical condition of local players before the start of the first preparatory camp ahead of the matches against Uganda and Botswana.
The Tunisian coach called on fans to be patient with the players, considering that the Tunisian player possesses distinctive tactical capabilities at the African level. He also revealed the addition of three new members to the technical staff, including Helmi Kechou and Anes Kazouz.
Al-Chaâbani stressed that the technical staff's work will be based on scientific and realistic evaluation, away from emotion and pressure. He affirmed that he has ideas and convictions through which he seeks to restore the national team's prestige, develop the level of Tunisian players, and achieve the set objectives.
Al-Chaâbani cited his previous experience with Esperance, which he led to win the CAF Champions League in 2018 and 2019, as well as his success with Nahdat Berkane in winning the Moroccan League and the CAF Confederation Cup.
Concluding his remarks, the technical director of the Tunisian national team emphasized the importance of investing in sports and developing infrastructure, facilities, and stadiums, considering them a fundamental pillar for the advancement of football. He cited the experiences of Morocco, Libya, and Iraq as examples.
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