Hassan and Chermiti reject Tunisia's call-up!

Journalist Haïder Charni revealed during his appearance on "Mosaïque FM" radio on Tuesday, March 25, that the players who refused the call-up to the Tunisian national team are Haitham Hassan and Youssef Chermiti.

Haitham Hassan, a Villarreal CF player on loan to Real Oviedo (23 years old), and Youssef Chermiti, a young talent from Everton FC (20 years old), both of Tunisian origin, have declined the call of the "Eagles of Carthage." This refusal comes despite multiple attempts by the Tunisian Football Federation (FTF) to convince them to join the national team for upcoming fixtures.

Trabelsi: "It's impossible to force a player to represent the country"

Following Tunisia's victory against Malawi (2-0) last Monday, during the sixth day of African qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, coach Sami Trabelsi discussed, in a press conference, the refusal of some players, particularly those born in Europe and holding dual nationality, to join the Tunisian squad.

The coach explained: "It's impossible to compel a player to join the national team if they don't feel a true desire. This willingness must come from within; it is essential. Some players have told us they are waiting for a minimal opportunity, not exceeding 1%, to join European squads."

He added: "I cannot wait indefinitely for these players to join the national team. Tunisia is precious and only needs those who wish to defend its honor with passion and determination."

Trabelsi continued: "We focus on players with dual nationality because, ultimately, they are Tunisians. We will start making definitive decisions regarding some of them as early as next June, even though we face challenges convincing those who prefer to play for foreign teams. This refusal may seem natural, given the current circumstances of the Tunisian squad. However, it's important to emphasize that Tunisia remains dear to us."

It should be noted that Tunisia secured a decisive victory in the final minutes against Malawi (2-0), thanks to goals from Jaziri and Elias Achouri, during a match held at the Stade Hamadi Agrebi in Radès.

Mohamed Rek |

Editorfr, ar, en

Mohamed Rek- sports content writer with over 10 years of experience creating football content in Arabic and French for platforms such as Foot Africa and Starafrica, combining accuracy, creativity, and audience engagement.