Profile on Tunisia Team for 2021 Africa Cup of Nations

Wahbi Khazri. (AFP)
Wahbi Khazri. (AFP)
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Profile on Tunisia Team for 2021 Africa Cup of Nations

Wahbi Khazri. (AFP)
Wahbi Khazri. (AFP)

Factbox on Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers Tunisia.

Africa Cup of Nations record

Previous appearances in finals: (19) 1962, 1963, 1965, 1978, 1982, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019

Best performance: Winners 2004

Drawn in Group F with Gambia, Mali and Mauritania.

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Coach: Mondher Kebaier

The former defender was a break from the long list of foreign coaches Tunisia have appointed when he was named to the post in August 2019.

He had previously worked at the country's top three clubs -- Club Africain, Esperance and Etoile Sahel.

Despite Tunisia reaching the Arab Cup final last month, there was speculation the 51-year-old was set to be fired, prompting the country's football federation to issue a statement denying the talk.

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Key player: Wahbi Khazri. Age: 30. Striker.

Khazri, who was born in Corsica and played for France at Under-21 level but whose parents hail from Tunisia, will be competing at his fifth finals.

It will be a welcome break from the struggles of St Etienne, where he is their top scorer this season. Despite his efforts they sit bottom of Ligue 1.

Khazri began his career at Bastia then moved to Girondins Bordeaux before enduring an unsuccessful stint at Sunderland. He returned to French football with Rennes.

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FIFA world ranking Dec 2021: 30

How they qualified: Top place team in Group J, ahead of Equatorial Guinea, Tanzania and Libya.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Farouk Ben Mustapha (Esperance), Bechir Ben Said (US Monastir), Aymen Dahmen (CS Sfaxien), Ali Jemal (Etoile Sahel)

Defenders: Ali Abdi (Caen), Mohamed Amine Ben Hamida (Esperance), Dylan Bronn (Metz), Mohamed Drager (Nottingham Forest), Oussama Haddadi (Yeni Malayaspor), Bilel Ifa (Club Africain), Ali Maaloul (Al Ahly), Hamza Mathlouthi (Zamalek), Omar Rekik (Arsenal), Montassar Talbi (Rubin Kazan)

Midfielders: Fires Ben Larbi (Ajman Club), Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane (Esperance), Anis Ben Slimane (Brondby), Ghailene Chaalali (Esperance), Saif-Eddine Khaoui (Clermont), Aissa Laidouni (Ferencvaros), Hannibal Mejbri (Manchester United), Hamza Rafia (Standard Liege), Elyas Skhiri (FC Cologne)

Forwards: Seifeddine Jaziri (Zamalek), Wahbi Khazri (St Etienne), Youssef Msakni (Al Arabi), Naim Sliti (Al Ittifaq), Yoann Touzghar (Troyes). (Compiled by Mark Gleeson; Editing by Peter Rutherford)



Reports: Liverpool Agree to Sign Frankfurt Striker Ekitike

Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike (L) is reportedly set to join Liverpool. Daniel ROLAND / AFP
Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike (L) is reportedly set to join Liverpool. Daniel ROLAND / AFP
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Reports: Liverpool Agree to Sign Frankfurt Striker Ekitike

Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike (L) is reportedly set to join Liverpool. Daniel ROLAND / AFP
Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike (L) is reportedly set to join Liverpool. Daniel ROLAND / AFP

Liverpool have agreed to sign Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike in a deal worth an initial £69 million ($92 million), according to reports on Monday.

The Premier League champions switched their focus to Ekitike following Newcastle's refusal to sell Sweden striker Alexander Isak, who is valued at around £150 million by the Magpies, AFP said.

Newcastle and Manchester United were also interested in Ekitike, but Liverpool look set to win the race for one of Europe's hottest young stars.

It is believed the Reds have agreed to pay a potential further £10 million in add-ons to sign the 23-year-old Frenchman, whose overall price tag could reach £79 million.

Once the transfer is completed, Ekitike will link up with Arne Slot's side on their pre-season tour of Asia.

Ekitike scored 22 goals in 48 games in all competitions for Frankfurt last season after joining the Bundesliga club from Paris Saint-Germain.

He was an unused substitute during his side's pre-season friendly against FSV Frankfurt on Saturday, with Eintracht boss Dino Toppmoller admitting Ekitike's impending departure was "a bitter loss".

Liverpool have an opening in their forward line after Diogo Jota's recent death in a car crash in Spain.

The Reds are also believed to be willing to sell Uruguay striker Darwin Nunez, while Colombia forward Luis Diaz has been the target of a rejected bid from Bayern Munich.

Liverpool have already splashed out £116 million on Germany playmaker Florian Wirtz, as well as signing defenders Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez from Bayer Leverkusen and Bournemouth respectively.

Georgia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili has also linked up with Arne Slot's side since the end of last season after agreeing his move from Valencia in 2024.