AFCON 2023: everything you need to know about Tunisia

• The Country

Capital: Tunis
Area: 163 610 km²
Population: 11 803 588 inhabitants
Official language: Arabic
Demonym: Tunisian
Motto: Liberty, Order, Justice
Team nickname: The Eagles of Carthage

• Tunisia and AFCON

Titles: 1
Finals: 3
Appearances before AFCON 2023: 20
As hosts: 3

• AFCON record

1962: semi-finalists
1963: first round
1965: runners-up
1978: semi-finalists
1982: first round
1994: first round
1996: runners-up
1998: quarter-finalists
2000: semi-finalists
2002: first round
2004: winners
2006: quarter-finalists
2008: quarter-finalists
2010: first round
2012: quarter-finalists
2013: first round
2015: quarter-finalists
2017: quarter-finalists
2019: semi-finalists
2021: quarter-finalists

With 20 appearances, Tunisia are among the Africa Cup of Nations' most regular participants. They are also one of the countries to have hosted the tournament most often (3): 1965, 1994, 2004. Although the Eagles of Carthage have reached the final on 3 occasions, they have won the title only once. They claimed their first title on home soil in 2004, beating Morocco in the final (2-1).

At AFCON, Tunisia hold the record for consecutive appearances (15), between 1994 and 2021. They also have two big wins (4-0), against Ethiopia (1965) and Mauritania (2022). Their heaviest defeats are 3-0 against Cameroon (2000), Guinea (2006) and Ivory Coast in 2006.

• The star: Youssef Msakni

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Born in Tunisia in 1990, he came through all his youth development in the country. He emerged at ES Tunis before moving to Qatar. A charismatic winger, the Eagle of Carthage made his international debut in 2009, aged just 19. Since then he has established himself and become the national team's go-to player.

The Tunisia international is preparing for his 8th Africa Cup of Nations (a record). He already has 25 AFCON appearances. That says it all about Youssef Msakni's longevity and quality. At 33, he plays for Al-Arabi SC. At this tournament in Ivory Coast, he will try to take his side further than in 2021 (quarter-finals). As captain, he is also one of Tunisia's attacking weapons.

• The coach: Jalel Kadri

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Assistant to Mondher Kebaier, Jalel Kadri was thrust into the Tunisia top job after Kebaier's dismissal following AFCON 2021. Aged 52, the Tunisian coach has managed several clubs in his homeland as well as the U20s. He has also worked in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

In charge of the national team, Jalel Kadri has recorded 12 wins, 4 draws and 3 defeats. He guided Tunisia to AFCON 2023 with 13 points from six games, finishing top ahead of Equatorial Guinea. The Eagles of Carthage also come into the tournament on the back of two wins in World Cup qualifying, against Malawi (1-0) and São Tomé and Príncipe (4-0).

• Tunisia's fixtures in Group E

16 January: Tunisia v Namibia
20 January: Tunisia v Mali
24 January: South Africa v Tunisia