TUNISIAN SQUAD

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Goalkeepers

1-Ali Boumnijel (Bastia) Born: 13.4.66
Experienced goalkeeper who was pipped for a starting place at France 98 by Chokri El Ouaer. Drafted into the current squad after career-ending injury to El Ouaer.

16-Hassen Bejaoui (CA Bizerte) Born 14.2.75.
Reserve goalkeeper at the African Nations Cup finals behind captain Chokri El Ouaer, who has since had to retire.

22-Ahmed Jaouachi (Monastir) Born: 13.7.75
Called into the squad for the first time in March for the Norway friendly. Likely to be third in the pecking order.

Defenders
2-Khaled Badra (Esperance) Born 8.4.73

Burly defender who played at France '98 and has just returned to the Tunisian champions after a six-month spell with Genoa in Serie B in Italy. Reportedly aroused interest from AC Milan during his spell in Italy but returned home in December instead.

12-Raouf Bouzaine (Genoa) Born 16.8.70
Utility player who was at Laval in France before returning to Tunisia to play for Club Africain for several seasons, before signing for the Italian second division side Genoa as part of a group of Tunisian internationals who had all previously worked under coach Francesco Scoglio.

23-Clayton (Esperance) Born: 21.3.74
Brazilian-born defender who played at France '98 and has fought his way back into the squad. Accurate crosser who likes to get forward to support the midfield and forwards. Had a spell at Bastia but suffered injuries before moving back to Tunisia.

15-Radhi Jaidi (Esperance) Born 30.8.75
Imposing centre back who has a reputation among the fiercest in African football. Played in two losing African Champions League finals and the last two Nations Cup finals. Will be the key component at the heart of Tunisia's defence at the World Cup finals.

4-Mohamed Mkacher (Etoile Sahel) Born: 25.5.75
One of three players dropped from the squad for the friendly in Spain last December after an incident while he was playing for his club side. Likely to be on the bench.

14-Hamdi Marzouki (Club Africain) Born 23.1.77
Captain of the side that reached the African Cup Winners's Cup semi-final last year. Made his debut in a friendly against Switzerland in November 2000 and was included in the squad for
the Nations Cup.

19-Emir Mkademi (Etoile Sahel) Born 20.8.78
Exciting prospect who first came to prominence with Etoile Sahel during the CAF Cup campaign, where the team have dominated the annual African club competition. Made his debut against Mauritania at the start of the 2002 World Cup qualifiers.

17-Tarek Thabet (Esperance) Born 16.8.71
Has won all three of the African club competitions with Esperance and played in the 1996 Nations Cup final, which Tunisia lost to South Africa. Also participated at the 1998 World Cup finals in France and has recently been recalled to the national squad.

6-Hatem Trabelsi (Ajax Amsterdam) Born 25.1.77
Bought by Dutch giants Ajax from CS Sfaxien last year and was man of the match on his debut against Glasgow Celtic. Played against England at the '98 World Cup finals in France and was one of the few highlights for coach Henri Michel at the recent Nations Cup in Mali.

Midfielders
3-Zoubeir Baya (Besiktas) Born 15.5.71

Joined Besiktas in the summer after four years at Freiburg in the German Bundesliga. Acknowledged as Tunisia's best player, having competed at the last World Cup finals in France and four successive Nations Cup tournaments. Also played in the under-23 team at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

18-Slim Ben Achour (Martigues) Born 8.9.81
Made his debut in January against Cameroon on the eve of the Nations Cup finals in Mali. Expected to feature prominently in this year's World Cup campaign, having emerged as a breath of fresh air in an ageing squad. Born in Paris and started his professional career at Paris St Germain.

13-Riadh Bouazizi (Bursaspor) Born 8.4.73
Successful product of the Olympic team that went to Atlanta in 1996 and later became the backbone of the national side under Polish coach Henryk Kasperczak. Formerly with Etoile Sahel, with whom he won the African Cup Winners' Cup in 1997.

8-Hassen Gabsi (Genoa) Born 23.3.74
Spent nine seasons with Esperance, including winning the 1994 African Champions Cup title, before his move last year to Italy. Busy midfielder, who missed the last World Cup because of injury and has been plagued by ankle problems again in recent months.

10-Kais Ghodhbane (Etoile Sahel) Born 8.1.76
Has won three African cups with his club, one in the Cup Winners' Cup and twice in the CAF Cup. Also played at last four Nations Cup finals and at the World Cup finals in France four years ago. Authoritative-looking player, who also has a reputation for scoring key goals at club level.

21-Mourad Melki (Esperance) Born 9.5.75
Played for his club in the last two African Champions League campaigns after joining from Olympique Beja, but appearances for the national side have been few and far between. A squad member at the last World Cup finals, although did not play in any of the
three games against Colombia, England and Romania.

7-Imed Mhadhebi (Genoa) Born 22.3.76
Moved from Etoile Sahel to Genoa last