Where is Hannibal Mejbri? Why Tunisia and Man United midfielder is not at AFCON 2023
Hannibal Mejbri played a part in two memorable results for Tunisia at the 2022 World Cup, helping the North African side beat France 1-0 and hold Denmark to a goalless draw during a respectable group-stage showing.
But the 20-year-old established international is not a part of his country's squad at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023.
The 28th-ranked team in the world were drawn in Group E for the tournament in Ivory Coast, alongside Namibia, Mali and South Africa.
Here's why Mejbri will not be involved in AFCON, what's happened to the United prospect and his international manager's reasoning for leaving him out.
AFCON 2023 fixtures, results, schedule, group tables
Mejbri would almost certainly have added to his 27 caps and made his AFCON debut before ruling himself out of the tournament at the end of December.
Tunisia's first game was against Namibia on January 16. "Hannibal told me that he did not feel ready for the African Cup of Nations because he is going through an important situation at his club," manager Jalel Kadri said.
A loanee at Birmingham City in 2022/23, Mejbri was reportedly the subject of attempts by several clubs to sign him at the time, having made only one Premier League start for United during the 2023/24 season.
United announced that Mejbri had joined Sevilla on loan for the rest of the season a day before 2004 champions Tunisia began their AFCON campaign, wishing him good luck at the Spanish club.
Sevilla have endured a turbulent season, sitting a place above the Spanish top-flight relegation zone when Mejbri joined them.
Jose Luis Mendilibar started the season in charge but left on October 8, and successor Diego Alonso lasted 69 days before being sacked. Quique Sanchez Flores took over on December
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