Tunisia will have to manage without goalkeeper Mouez Hassen for the remainder of the 2018 World Cup, due to a shoulder injury sustained in their opening match against England on Monday evening.
“Hassen underwent scans Tuesday morning and the result wasn’t encouraging; he will not recover in time to be fit for the rest of the tournament,” the team coach Nabil Maaloul told reporters.
The 23-year-old goalkeeper started in the kick-off match of the Carthage Eagles’ tournament games, but was forced out by the injury in 15th minute.
Long-time Tunisia custodian Farouk Ben Mustapha was called upon to enter the match with Hassen reported to have been flown to his French second division club Chateauroux for further treatment.
Hassen gave up a goal after an early English onslaught, crumpling to the pitch afterwards. Shortly after, he went down again due to collision with England midfielder Jesse Lingard.
In the desperate performance, Tunisia lost 2-1 to England and will next face other Group G opponents Belgium on Saturday and then Panama next week Thursday.
Tunisia coach Nabil Maaloul will now have to do with only two goalkeepers, Farouk Ben Mustapha and Aymen Mathlouthi, as FIFA rules forbid teams to replace injured players when the tournament is underway.
Hassen, whose parents hail from Tunisia, represented France at every youth level – from Under-16s through to Under-21s before he switched his allegiance to Tunisia earlier this year and made his international debut in March.
