NATIONAL TEAM - TUNISIA - Youssef Msakni recalled to Tunisia squad

AFRICA CUP 2017 QUALIFIERS Youssef Msakni

Youssef Msakni returns to the Tunisia squad for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Liberia six months after he last played for the team.

The 24-year-old, who plays in Qatar, is part of coach Henry Kasperczak's 23-man group for the 6 September Group A tie.

Kasperczak has chosen eight Etoile du Sahel players, but has left out CS Sfaxien's Ali Maaloul and Club Africain's Houcine Nater.

"With due respect, Etoile are the best team in Tunisia right now," he said.

"I will never ignore or disrespect any club, but Etoile players are showing strong performances in the Confederation Cup and the Tunisia Cup."

The veteran coach, who replaced Georges Leekens in July, has also drafted in uncapped duo Ammar Jemal and Hamza Lahmar.

Tunisia eased to an 8:1 win over Djibouti, the third lowest ranked national football team in the world, in their opening qualifier.

Tunisia squad:

Goalkeepers: 

Moez Ben Cherifia 
(Espérance)

Farouk Ben Mustapha 
(Club Africain)

Aymen Mathlouthi 
(Etoile du Sahel)

Defenders: 

Aymen Abdennour 
(Monaco, France)

Syam Ben Youssef 
(Caen, France)

Ghazi Abderrazzek
(CS Sfaxien) 

Selim Ben Jemai 
(CS Sfaxien)

Alaya Brigui
(Etoile du Sahel)

Zied Boughattas
(Etoile du Sahel)

Mohamed Amine Ben Amor
(Etoile du Sahel)

Hamdi Nagguez 
(Etoile du Sahel)

Ammar Jemal 
(Etoile du Sahel)

Fakhreddine Ben Youssef 
(Esperance)

Midfielders: 

Yassine Chikhaoui 
(Al-Gharafa SC, Qatar)

Mohamed Ali Moncer 
(CS Sfaxien)

Houcine Ragued 
(Espérance)

Wahbi Khazri 
(Bordeaux, France)

Forwards: 

Youssef Msakni 
(Lekhwiya, Qatar)

Hamza Lahmar 
(Etoile du Sahel)

Hamza Mathlouthi 
(CA Bizertin)

Amine Chermiti 
(FC Zürich, Switzerland) 

Saber Khelifa 
(Club Africain)