Tunisia coach Nabil Maaloul has outlined his squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™, naming a 29-man preliminary squad.

The most glaring omission is that of attacking talisman Youssef Msakni, who suffered a serious knee injury in April, with Rennes’ Wahbi Khazri the only player to have scored double figures for the national team in the selection.

They will face Portugal and Turkey prior to slimming their squad down to the final 23, before meeting Spain on 9 June in their final warm-up match.

All squads are provisional until the final list of 23 players is announced by FIFA, following their submission by participating teams, on 4 June.

Tunisia provisional squad

Goalkeepers: Mathlouthi Aymen (Al Batin, Saudi Arabia), Ben Cherifia Moez (ES Tunis), Ben Mustapha Farouk (Al Shabab, Saudi Arabia), Moez Hassen (LB Chateauroux, France)

Defenders: Hamdi Nagguez (Zamalek, Egypt), Dylan Bronn (Gent, Belgium), Rami Bedoui (ES Setif), Yohan Ben Olouane (Leicester City, England), Siyam Ben Youssef (Kasimpasa, Turkey), Yessine Meriah (CS Sfaxien), Bilel Mohsni (Dundee United, Scotland), Khalil Chammam (ES Tunis), Oussama Haddai (Dijon, France), Ali Maaloul (Al Ahly, Egypt);

Midfielders: Elyess Skhiri (Montpellier, France), Mohamed Amine Ben Amor (Al Ahly, Saudi Arabia), Ghaylene Chalali (ES Tunis), Karim Laaribi (Cesena, Italy), Ferjani Sassi (Al Nassr, Saudi Arabia), Ahmed Khlil (Club Africain), Seifeddine Khaoui (Troyes, France), Mohamed Wael Arbi (Tours, France);

Forwards: Fakhreddine Ben Youssef (Al Ittifaq, Saudi Arabia), Anice Badri (ES Tunis), Bassem Srarfi (Nice, France), Ahmed Akaichi (Al Ittihad, Saudi Arabia), Wahbi Khazri (Rennes, France), Naim Sliti (Dijon, France), Sabeur Khlifa (Club Africain).