Tunisia national under-20 football team

Last updated
Tunisia U-20
Nickname(s) نسور قرطاج
(Eagles of Carthage)
Association Tunisian Football Federation
Other affiliation UAFA (Arab World)
Confederation CAF (Africa)
Sub-confederation UNAF (North Africa)
Head coach Abdelhay Ben Soltane
Home stadium Hammadi Agrebi Stadium
FIFA code TUN
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First colours
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Second colours
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Third colours
First international
Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia 0–6 Mexico  Flag of Mexico.svg
(Tunis, Tunisia; 27 June 1977)
Biggest win
Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia 5–0 Libya  Flag of Libya (1977-2011).svg
(Tunis, Tunisia; 20 July 2002)
Biggest defeat
Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia 0–6 Mexico  Flag of Mexico.svg
(Tunis, Tunisia; 27 June 1977)
FIFA U-20 World Cup
Appearances3 (first in 1977 )
Best resultRound of 16 (2023)
U-20 Africa Cup of Nations
Appearances9 (first in 1979 )
Best resultRunners-up (1985)
Arab Cup U-20
Appearances4 (first in 2012 )
Best resultChampions (2012)

The Tunisia national under-20 football team has represented Tunisia in men's international association football for players aged 20 or under. The team is administered by the Tunisian Football Federation (TFF), which governs football in Tunisia. On a continental level, the team competes under the Confederation of African Football (CAF), which governs associate football in Africa, and is also affiliated with FIFA for global competitions. Additionally, the team is a member of the Union of North African Football (UNAF) and the Union of Arab Football Associations (UAFA). The team is colloquially known as Eagles of Carthage by fans and the media, with the bald eagle serving as its symbol. Their home kit is primarily white and their away kit is red, which is a reference to the national flag of the country. Abdelhay Ben Soltane is the current head coach.

Contents

The Tunisian national team qualified for the FIFA U-17 World Cup three times: the inaugural edition in 1977 as hosts, 1985 and 2023, reaching the round of 16 in the last participation. The team qualified nine times for the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations, finishing second in 1985 after losing the final to Nigeria. The team did not qualify for the tournament for 32 years, returning to the 2021 and 2023 editions, achieving fourth place in both. The team participated four times in the Arab Cup U-20. He won the title in the first participation in 2012 after defeating Saudi Arabia in the final. He also reached the 2020 final but lost to Senegal, who were invited to the tournament. Tunisia has participated in the Mediterranean Games with the under-20 category six times, winning the gold medal in 2001 as host after defeating Italy in the final, and the bronze medal in 2013. The Tunisian national team is the most successful team in UNAF. He participated in the UNAF U-20 Tournament sixteen times, winning the title nine times as a record in 2005, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023. He also achieved second place three times and third place twice.

Current staff

The current staff was appointed on 16 April 2025. [1] [2]

PositionName
Head Coach Flag of Tunisia.svg Abdelhay Ben Soltane
Assistant coach Flag of Tunisia.svg Aymen Mathlouthi
Goalkeeping Coach Flag of Tunisia.svg Hassen Bejaoui
Fitness Coach Flag of Tunisia.svg Anis Kazouz
Performance Analyst Flag of Tunisia.svg Walid Ben Tamansourt

Honours

Silver medal icon.svg Runners-up: 1985
Gold medal icon.svgChampions: 2012
Silver medal icon.svg Runners-up: 2020
Gold medal icon.svgChampions: 2001
Bronze medal icon.svg Third Place: 2013
Gold medal icon.svgChampions: 2005, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
Silver medal icon.svg Runners-up: 2008, 2010, 2015
Bronze medal icon.svg Third Place: 2006, 2024

Competitive records

 Champions    Runners-up    Third place    Fourth place

FIFA U-20 World Cup

FIFA U-20 World Cup record
YearRoundPositionPldWD*LGFGA
Flag of Tunisia.svg 1977 Group stage14th310217
Flag of Japan.svg 1979 Did not qualify
Flag of Australia (converted).svg 1981
Flag of Mexico.svg 1983
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg 1985 Group stage16th300326
Flag of Chile.svg 1987 Did not qualify
Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg 1989
Flag of Portugal (official).svg 1991
Flag of Australia (converted).svg 1993
Flag of Qatar.svg 1995
Flag of Malaysia.svg 1997
Flag of Nigeria.svg 1999
Flag of Argentina.svg 2001
Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg 2003
Flag of the Netherlands.svg 2005
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg 2007
Flag of Egypt.svg 2009
Flag of Colombia.svg 2011
Flag of Turkey.svg 2013
Flag of New Zealand.svg 2015
Flag of South Korea.svg 2017
Flag of Poland.svg 2019
Flag of Indonesia.svg 2021 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic [3]
Flag of Argentina.svg 2023 Round of 1615th410346
Flag of Chile.svg 2025 Did not qualify
TotalRound of 163/2410208719

U-20 Africa Cup of Nations

U-20 Africa Cup of Nations record
YearRoundPositionPldWD*LGFGA
Flag placeholder.svg 1979 Second round421142
Flag placeholder.svg 1981 Second round420256
Flag placeholder.svg 1983 First round201104
Flag placeholder.svg 1985 Runner-up2nd815255
Flag placeholder.svg 1987 Quarter-finals413032
Flag placeholder.svg 1989 First round202022
Flag of Egypt.svg 1991 Withdrew after qualification
Flag of Mauritius.svg 1993 Did not qualify
Flag of Nigeria.svg 1995
Flag of Morocco.svg 1997
Flag of Ghana.svg 1999
Flag of Ethiopia.svg 2001
Flag of Burkina Faso.svg 2003
Flag of Benin.svg 2005
Flag of the Republic of the Congo.svg 2007
Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg 2009
Flag of South Africa.svg 2011
Flag of Algeria.svg 2013
Flag of Senegal.svg 2015
Flag of Zambia.svg 2017
Flag of Niger.svg 2019
Flag of Mauritania.svg 2021 Fourth Place4th613246
Flag of Egypt.svg 2023 Fourth Place4th6123512
Flag of Egypt.svg 2025 Group stage9th310245
TotalRunners-up9/2239917133244

Arab Cup U-20

Arab Cup U-20 record
YearRoundPositionPldWD*LGFGA
Flag of Morocco.svg 2011 Did not enter
Flag of Jordan.svg 2012 Champions1st5410149
Flag of Qatar.svg 2014 Cancelled
Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg 2020 Runners-up2nd6411103
Flag of Egypt.svg 2021 Fourth Place4th540163
Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg 2022 Quarter-finals5th320191
Total1 Title4/51914233916

Mediterranean Games

Mediterranean Games record
YearRoundPositionPldWD*LGFGA
19511987 See Tunisia national football team
Flag of Greece.svg 1991 Group stage7th210115
Flag of France (lighter variant).svg 1993 Group stage7th310225
Flag of Italy.svg 1997 Did not enter
Flag of Tunisia.svg 2001 Champions1st430171
Flag of Spain.svg 2005 Quarter-finals7th303044
Flag of Italy.svg 2009 Group stage7th421165
Flag of Turkey.svg 2013 Third Place3rd5311105
Since Flag of Spain.svg 2018 See Tunisia national under-18 football team
Total1 Title6/122110563025

UNAF U-20 Tournament

UNAF U-20 Tournament record
YearRoundPositionPldWD*LGFGA
Flag of Tunisia.svg 2005 Champions1st330041
Flag of Egypt.svg 2006 Third Place3rd4130??
Flag of Libya (1977-2011).svg 2007 Champions1st320143
Flag of Morocco.svg 2008 Runner-up2nd422053
Flag of Libya (1977-2011).svg 2009 Champions1st320141
Flag of Libya (1977-2011).svg 2010 Runner-up2nd302145
Flag of Libya.svg 2011 Did not participate
Flag of Algeria.svg 2012 Champions1st211032
Flag of Algeria.svg 2012 Fifth Place5th210124
Flag of Libya.svg 2014 Fourth Place4th200213
Flag of Tunisia.svg 2015 Runner-up2nd210132
Flag of Mauritania (1959-2017).svg 2016Cancelled
Flag of Tunisia.svg 2019 Champions1st421154
Flag of Tunisia.svg 2020 Champions1st312021
Flag of Tunisia.svg 2021 Champions1st4310114
Flag of Egypt.svg 2022 Champions1st312054
Flag of Tunisia.svg 2023 Champions1st4400156
Flag of Egypt.svg 2024 Third Place3rd420255
Total9 Titles16/1750261410

African Games

African Games record
YearRoundPositionPldWD*LGFGA
19651987 See Tunisia national football team
19912015 See Tunisia national under-23 football team
Flag of Morocco.svg 2019 Did not qualify
Flag of Ghana.svg 2023 Withdrew after qualification
Flag of Egypt.svg 2027 To be determined
Total0/2

Players

Current squad

The following players were called up to the squad for the 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations. [4]

No.Pos.PlayerDate of birth (age)Club
11 GK Thomas Zouaghi (2005-04-11)11 April 2005 (aged 20) Flag of Italy.svg Hellas Verona
161 GK Moatez Hanzouli Flag of Tunisia.svg CA Bizertin
221 GK Rayen Besbes (2005-08-04)4 August 2005 (aged 19) Flag of Tunisia.svg US Monastir

22 DF Rayan Jerbi (2006-04-29)29 April 2006 (aged 18) Flag of France.svg Nice
32 DF Rayane Rhimi (2005-12-31)31 December 2005 (aged 19) Flag of Tunisia.svg CA Bizertin
42 DF Alaeddine Derbali (2005-05-19)19 May 2005 (aged 19) Flag of Tunisia.svg Espérance de Tunis
52 DF Mohamed Allela (2005-02-16)16 February 2005 (aged 20) Flag of Tunisia.svg CA Bizertin
152 DF Mohamed Bouzaabia (2005-03-09)9 March 2005 (aged 20) Flag of Tunisia.svg Étoile du Sahel
202 DF Wassim Abrougi (2007-03-25)25 March 2007 (aged 18) Flag of France.svg Lyon
252 DF Anis Doubal (2006-10-29)29 October 2006 (aged 18) Flag of France.svg Marseille
262 DF Rayan Boukadida (2007-01-23)23 January 2007 (aged 18) Flag of France.svg Saint-Étienne

63 MF Hamza Abidi Flag of Tunisia.svg Club Africain
83 MF Amenallah Meherzi (2005-10-24)24 October 2005 (aged 19) Flag of Qatar.svg Al Bidda
123 MF Elyes Dhaoui (2008-04-15)15 April 2008 (aged 17) Flag of Tunisia.svg Olympique Béja
133 MF Wajdi Issaoui (2005-01-08)8 January 2005 (aged 20) Flag of Tunisia.svg Espérance de Tunis
143 MF Moncef Gharbi (2006-05-04)4 May 2006 (aged 18) Flag of Tunisia.svg Stade Tunisien
173 MF Rayane Anane (2006-08-15)15 August 2006 (aged 18) Flag of Tunisia.svg Étoile du Sahel
233 MF Anes Kordi (2006-03-28)28 March 2006 (aged 19) Flag of Germany.svg Hannover 96
243 MF Wael Debbiche (2005-06-09)9 June 2005 (aged 19) Flag of France.svg Annecy

74 FW Koussay Maacha (2007-05-21)21 May 2007 (aged 17) Flag of Tunisia.svg Espérance de Tunis
94 FW Omar Ben Ali (2005-04-22)22 April 2005 (aged 20) Flag of Tunisia.svg CS Sfaxien
104 FW Khalil Ayari (2005-02-02)2 February 2005 (aged 20) Flag of Tunisia.svg Stade Tunisien
114 FW Youssef Becha (2005-04-13)13 April 2005 (aged 20) Flag of Tunisia.svg CS Sfaxien
184 FW Nacim Dendani (2006-04-30)30 April 2006 (aged 18) Flag of France.svg Monaco
194 FW Zayon Chtaï-Telamio (2006-10-14)14 October 2006 (aged 18) Flag of France.svg Paris Saint-Germain
214 FW Farès Bousnina (2006-02-13)13 February 2006 (aged 19) Flag of France.svg Nice

See also

References

  1. "Abdelhay Ben Soltane nouveau sélectionneur des U20" [Abdelhay Ben Soltane new U20 coach]. Mosaique FM (in French). Retrieved 2025-04-16.
  2. "[EN] : Ben Soltane aux commandes des Aigles de Carthage U20" [NT: Ben Soltane at the helm of the U20 Eagles of Carthage]. Tunisie-Foot (in French). Retrieved 2025-04-16.
  3. "Update on FIFA Women's World Cup and men's youth competitions". FIFA. 24 December 2020. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  4. "Notre élite U20 est prête pour la CAN U20 – Égypte 2025". Tunisian Football Federation (Facebook) (in French). 17 April 2025.