Tunisia Face Uganda in Africa Cup of Nations Qualifier Without Injured Star Hannibal Mejbri
Kampala, 24 September 2026
Tunisia begin their Africa Cup of Nations 2027 qualifying campaign against Uganda tonight, forced to rebuild their squad without injured Burnley midfielder Hannibal Mejbri.
A New Chapter for the Eagles of Carthage
The Eagles of Carthage are entering a transitional phase as they host the Uganda Cranes at the Hammad Agrebi Stadium on Thursday, 24 September 2026, at 10:00 pm East Africa Time (EAT) [2]. Head coach Mouine Chaâbani is tasked with a significant rebuilding process following a disappointing 2026 World Cup campaign in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, where the team suffered three consecutive defeats [1][2]. During that tournament, Tunisia struggled defensively, conceding an average of 4 goals per match after letting in 12 goals while scoring only twice [1][2].
Squad Reorganisation and Key Absences
In a bid to restore continental dominance, Chaâbani has retained only 14 players from the squad that travelled to the World Cup [1][2]. To inject fresh energy and experience into the national set-up, the coach has recalled the seasoned trio of Ferjani Sassi, Aïssa Laïdouni, and veteran left-back Ali Maâloul, alongside Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane, Hamza Rafia, Sayfallah Ltaief, and Amine Cherni [1][2]. Furthermore, the squad features promising new talent, with senior call-ups handed to Samy Chouchane, Sadok Kedida, and Mohamed Nasraoui [1]. However, Tunisia must navigate this opening match without the services of Burnley’s injured midfielder Hannibal Mejbri [1][2].
The Cranes Seek Redemption in Tunis
Uganda’s Cranes view this opening Group H fixture as a prime opportunity to challenge one of Africa’s traditional powerhouses [2][8]. Mejbri was instrumental when the two sides last met in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) group stage in Morocco, where he delivered a man-of-the-match performance to secure a 3-1 victory for Tunisia [2]. Additionally, the Cranes will not have to face veteran midfielder Elyes Skhiri, who scored the opening goal against Uganda in their previous AFCON encounter and has since retired from international football [2][alert! ‘The source mentions Skhiri scoring in “December 23 in Afcon”, which appears to be a typographical error in the original text for December 2025’].
Continuity and Community Support
Uganda Cranes’ head coach, Paul Put, has a highly motivated squad at his disposal, boasting several players who featured in the previous AFCON encounter in Morocco [2]. Key squad members available for selection include Tobby Sibbick, Rogers Torach, Aziz Kayondo, Kenneth Ssemakula, Rogers Mato, Steven Mukwala, Travis Mutyaba, Alhassan Baba, Allan Okello, and James Bogere [2]. This continuity in the Ugandan squad provides a strong foundation of mutual understanding as they seek to secure an historic result on Tunisian soil [GPT]. Meanwhile, the excitement of the AFCON qualifiers is felt deeply across the continent, capturing the imagination of football fans in regions like Kakuma and Kalobeyei who passionately follow African football [GPT][alert! ‘Specific local resident quotes from Kakuma and Kalobeyei were not available in the provided source materials’].