Tunisia begin new era as Lamouchi names inaugural squad

Sabri Lamouchi has named his first squad as head coach of the Tunisia national football team, unveiling a 30-man selection for the upcoming March training camp ahead of preparations for the 2026 World Cup.

The 54-year-old’s inaugural list introduces a number of new faces, signalling a shift towards evaluating emerging talent alongside established internationals.

Among those receiving call-ups are goalkeepers Mouhib Chamekh, Sabri Ben Hsan and Louay Ben Farhat, a young prospect currently playing in Germany’s second division.

Lamouchi has also handed potential debuts to Khalil Ayari and Rani Khedira, adding both youth and experience to his squad as he begins to shape his team.

The selection comes as Tunisia prepare for two international friendlies later this month. The Carthage Eagles are scheduled to face Haiti national football team and Canada national football team on 28 and 31 March respectively in Toronto, fixtures that will serve as an early test under the new coach.

Lamouchi’s squad reflects a clear emphasis on current form, with players drawn from clubs across Europe and North Africa.

Several established names have been included, such as Ellyes Skhiri, Hannibal Mejbri and Anis Ben Slimane, providing a core of experience within the group.

At the same time, the squad features a significant number of attacking options, with 10 forwards selected. This approach suggests a desire to assess a wide range of offensive players as Tunisia look to strengthen their attacking depth ahead of future competitions.

Among the forwards are players based in various leagues, including Europe and North America, highlighting the breadth of talent available to the national team.

The inclusion of younger players such as Ben Farhat, Rayan Elloumi and Anisse Saidi points to a long-term strategy aimed at integrating new talent into the senior setup.

Notable absentees from the squad include Talbi and Cherni, though indications suggest they remain part of the national team’s longer-term plans and could feature in future selections.

The announcement marks the beginning of a new chapter for Tunisia under Lamouchi, who has been tasked with guiding the team through its next phase of development.

The upcoming friendlies are expected to provide valuable insight into player performances, team cohesion and tactical direction.

With the 2026 World Cup on the horizon, the March training camp represents an important opportunity for Lamouchi to evaluate his options and begin building a squad capable of competing on the international stage.

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Daraja Kapoor
Daraja Kapoor is a highly respected football journalist, editor and analyst, known for his compelling storytelling and sharp, data-driven insights into the game. He specialises in match analysis, features, emerging talent coverage and football trends across Africa.He holds a degree in English from the University of Cape Coast and has built a strong reputation in the media industry through his disciplined approach and deep understanding of football.Daraja received his journalistic training at leading news platform Ghanaguardian.com and has worked with some of the most prominent football websites in Ghana, including Footballmadeinghana.com and Ghanasoccernet.com. He also served as Sports Editor of Talysports.com, where he played a key role in shaping editorial direction and content strategy.He is currently the Managing Editor of African.Football, where he leads the platform’s editorial vision, overseeing content production, quality control and the delivery of authoritative African football coverage to a global audience.

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