Mouine Chaâbani, the coach of the Tunisia national football team, announced his squad on September 18, 2026, for upcoming fixtures. The "Eagles of Carthage" will face Uganda and Botswana in qualifiers for the Africa Cup of Nations, followed by a friendly match against Mali. This marks Chaâbani's first interaction with the players since their disappointing performance at the last World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The team suffered significant defeats, losing 1-5 to Sweden, 1-3 to the Netherlands, and 0-4 to Japan, which tarnished their image. Notably, international midfielder and captain Elyes Skhiri submitted a request to the Tunisian Football Federation not to be included in the national team squad. This decision adds a layer of complexity as the team seeks redemption and to restore its reputation.