Soccer-Tunisia cancel Mali friendly due to injuries, ranking concerns, source says

TUNIS, Sept ⁠30 (Reuters) - Tunisia have cancelled next week's friendly against ⁠Mali amid injury concerns and fears over the ‌potential impact of the result on their FIFA ranking, a source close to the national team told Reuters on Wednesday.

The Tunisian Football Federation ​announced that the October 3 match ⁠in Rades would not ⁠go ahead, saying the decision had been taken following consultations ⁠with ‌the team's coaching staff and in agreement with the Malian Football Federation.

A source with knowledge of ⁠the situation said a shortage of available ​players due to ‌injury was a key factor behind the decision, ⁠along with concerns ​about risking a result that could affect Tunisia's position in the FIFA rankings.

Tunisia are 61st in the rankings and ⁠are looking to rebuild momentum after a ​disappointing start to their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.

Tunisia opened Group H with a 1-1 draw against Uganda ⁠before being held 2-2 by Botswana on Monday, leaving them with two points from two matches.

Uganda top the Group With four points, while Botswana are second on two ​points, ahead of Tunisia on goal ⁠difference. Libya are bottom of the group with one ​point.

With co-hosts Uganda assured of a ‌place at the 2027 finals, only ​the group winners will qualify.

(Reporting by Latifa Guesmi and Ashraf Hamed Atta, editing by Ed Osmond)

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突尼斯，9 月 30 日（路透社）——一位接近突尼斯国家队的消息人士周三告诉路透社，由于伤病问题以及担心比赛结果可能对其国际足联排名产生影响，突尼斯取消了下周与马里的友谊赛。

突尼斯足球协会宣布，原定于10月3日在拉德斯举行的比赛将不会进行，并表示该决定是在与球队教练组协商后，经与马里足球协会达成一致后做出的。

一位了解情况的消息人士称，由于伤病导致可用球员短缺是做出这一决定的关键因素，此外，他们还担心比赛结果可能会影响突尼斯在国际足联排名中的位置。

突尼斯目前排名第 61 位，在 2027 年非洲国家杯预选赛开局不利后，他们正努力重振旗鼓。

突尼斯在H组首战中与乌干达1-1战平，随后在周一与博茨瓦纳2-2战平，两战积2分。

乌干达以4分位居小组榜首，博茨瓦纳积2分排名第二，凭借净胜球优势力压突尼斯。利比亚积1分垫底。

由于联合主办国乌干达已确保获得 2027 年决赛的参赛资格，因此只有小组第一名才能晋级决赛。

（Latifa Guesmi 和 Ashraf Hamed Atta 报道，Ed Osmond 编辑）

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