Father rejects his son's call-up for Tunisia at FIFA World Cup 2026
Tunisia manager Sabri Lamouchi has announced his 23-man squad for FIFA World Cup 2026.
The big controversy, or at least a very bizarre and intriguing talking point, is that Sabri Lamouchi has discussed how the father of Karlsruher forward Louey Ben Farhat called Lamouchi to say that his son was not ready to be involved and Ben Farhat then ignored Lamouchi's call.
That is despite the 19-year-old, who turns 20 a day after this summer's final, being involved and making his debut with two appearances during the recent March international break.
Having only taken charge of Tunisia in January, following a disappointing CAF Africa Cup of Nations campaign, former Nottingham Forest boss Lamouchi has led a bit of a cull of some regulars of the last decade or so of the Tunisian national side.
Starting from the back, goalkeeper Bechir Ben Said has been left out alongside experienced defenders Yassine Meriah and Ali Maaloul – both five caps short of 100.
Further forward, 102-cap midfielder Ferjani Sassi has also been left out alongside both Aissa Laidouni and Mohammed Ali Ben Romdhane with Seifeddine Jaziri dropped after the winter and Naim Sliti having announced his international retirement. In fact, 12 of their AFCON squad have been left out less than six months on.
With a fresher looking squad, the Tunisians are moving into a new era with 21-year-old Khalil Ayari, of Paris Saint-Germain, in an attack that also boasts Celtic striker Sebastian Tounekti, Elias Saad of Hannover and Copenhagen’s Elias Achouri.
They still possess a fair bit of experience at the back with Montassar Talbi, Dylan Bronn, Ali Abdi and Yan Valery but the key and perhaps most impressive part of their squad is in midfield.
Burnley’s Hannibal Mejbri, formerly of Manchester United, remains alongside Norwich City’s Anis Ben Slimane, as well as captain Ellyes Skhiri, of Eintracht Frankfurt. An interesting storyline in that part of the pitch, too, comes with Rani Khedira, the brother of 2014 FIFA World Cup winner Sami, declaring his allegiance to the Eagles of Carthage.
