FACTBOX-Soccer-Profile of Tunisia team for 2023 Africa Cup of Nations

Skhiri was born in France but his father is Tunisian and he made his national team debut in 2018, ahead of the World Cup in Russia.

Factbox on Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers Tunisia. Africa Cup of Nations record:

Previous appearances in finals: (20) 1962, 1963, 1965, 1978, 1982, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021 Best performance: Winners 2004

Drawn in Group E with Mali, Namibia and South Africa. - - -

Coach: Jalel Kadri The 52-year-old has had a journeyman coaching career at a myriad of clubs both in Tunisia and in the Middle East and was Tunisia’s assistant coach at the last Cup of Nations finals. Despite reaching the quarter-final, his predecessor Mondher Kebaier was fired afterwards and Kadri stepped into the hot seat, immediately securing World Cup qualification for Tunisia. He took them to the finals in Qatar where they beat France but still did not make it out of the group phase, following which his offer to resign was not accepted by the Tunisian federation who insisted he stay in the post.

- - - Key player: Ellyes Skhiri. Age: 28. Midfielder.

Skhiri set a Bundesliga record for the most distance covered by a single player in a season. His strength lies in his defensive resilience and strong work ethic. He made his Montpellier debut as a fullback and then moved into the heart of the defence, before shifting into a holding midfielder role at Cologne. He was signed by Eintracht Frankfurt at the start of this season. Skhiri was born in France but his father is Tunisian and he made his national team debut in 2018, ahead of the World Cup in Russia. - - -

FIFA world ranking Dec 2023: 28 How they qualified: Top place team in Group J, ahead of Equatorial Guinea, Botswana and Libya.

Squad: Goalkeepers: Bechir Ben Said (US Monastir), Aymen Dhamen (Al Hazem), Mouez Hassen (Club Africain)

Defenders: Ali Abdi (Caen), Alaa Ghram (CS Sfaxien), Oussam Haddadi (Greuther Furth), Hamza Jelassi (Etoile Sahel), Wajdi Kechrida (Atromitos), Ali Maaloul (Al Ahly), Yassine Meriah (Esperance), Montassir Talbi (Lorient), Yan Valery (Angers) Midfielders: Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane (Ferencvaros), Anis Ben Slimane (Sheffield United), Aissa Laidouni (Union Berlin), Hadj Mahmoud (Lugano), Hamza Rafia (Lecce), Ellyes Skhiri (Eintracht Frankfurt), Bassem Srarfi (Club Africain), Houssem Tka (Esperance),

Forwards: Elias Achouri (FC Copenhagen), Seifeddine Jaziri (Zamalek), Haythem Jouini (Stade Tunisien), Taha Yassine Khenissi (Kuwait SC), Sayfallah Ltaief (Winterthur), Youssef Msakni (Al Arabi), Naim Sliti (Al Ahli). (Compiled by Mark Gleeson; Editing by Toby Davis)