Tunisia international Ali Al-Abdi has apologised to supporters after his comments about the national team sparked criticism, insisting that his words did not accurately reflect his feelings towards his country.
The 33-year-old Nice defender addressed the controversy in a video published by the Tunisian Football Federation on Tuesday, 20 October, expressing regret over the reaction to his earlier remarks and denying any intention to offend the country or its supporters.
Al-Abdi explained that his choice of words in French had not conveyed what he wanted to say, leading to his comments being interpreted differently from their intended meaning.
The apology follows criticism of an interview with Nice’s media in which the defender spoke about his preference to play his club’s play-off matches before joining the Tunisian national team.
His remarks triggered debate among Tunisian supporters about his priorities and commitment to representing his country at international level.
In his latest message, Al-Abdi sought to clarify his position and bring the dispute to an end, stressing that his statements should not be taken as a sign that he was unwilling to play for Tunisia.
Al-Abdi insists on commitment to Tunisia
The former Tunisia international defender pointed to his record with the national team as evidence of his commitment, highlighting his participation in the World Cup.
He argued that his actions on the pitch demonstrated a level of dedication that did not match the impression created by his controversial comments.
The Nice player also reiterated that he had never refused to represent Tunisia or expressed a desire to abandon the national team’s colours.
His latest apology follows an earlier attempt to explain the circumstances surrounding his remarks. He maintained that the comments related to a particular situation rather than a broader reluctance to join the national squad.
The controversy began after Al-Abdi discussed the scheduling of Nice’s play-off fixtures and his wish to feature for his club before linking up with Tunisia.
The comments attracted attention because of the importance attached to national team commitments, prompting questions from supporters about where his priorities lay during that period.
Al-Abdi’s clarification was intended to address those concerns and reassure the Tunisian public that his commitment to the national side had not changed.
Fresh apology seeks to end controversy
The Tunisian Football Federation’s decision to publish the video provided the defender with an opportunity to explain his position directly to supporters.
Al-Abdi acknowledged that the language he used had contributed to the misunderstanding, saying that his French expression was inaccurate and failed to communicate his actual intentions.
His message was also aimed at addressing the anger caused by the original interview, with the defender expressing regret over the reaction his words had provoked.
The episode has placed renewed attention on the relationship between club commitments and international duty, particularly when players face competing demands from their teams and national sides.
For Al-Abdi, the immediate priority is to make clear that his comments were not intended as a rejection of Tunisia or its supporters.
The 33-year-old’s latest statement represents another effort to move beyond the dispute and restore confidence among fans who questioned his remarks.
Whether the apology will fully settle the matter remains to be seen, but Al-Abdi has made his position clear: he says his earlier words did not reflect his true feelings about representing his country.
