When Yasin Ayari scored two spectacular goals in Sweden's emphatic opening World Cup victory, it left a bitter taste in Tunisia, the country he could have represented.
Ayari eclipsed his more celebrated teammates, Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres, in Sweden's 5-1 victory on Sunday and is expected to start against the Netherlands on Saturday.
Born in Solna, Sweden, to a Tunisian father and a Moroccan mother, the 22-year-old is among a growing number of players at the World Cup eligible to represent more than one nation.
His performances for Swedish club AIK earned him a move to Premier League side Brighton in 2023. He subsequently spent loan spells at Coventry City and Blackburn Rovers before establishing himself in Brighton's first team during the recently concluded season.
Former Tunisia international Houssem Haj Ali has said that Ayari's case highlighted how the North African nation continues to lose promising talent.
"Of course, it is a great bitterness. The situation could have been the opposite if Yasin had worn the Tunisia jersey," he said.
Haj Ali urged the authorities to learn from the experience.
"We must create the conditions that allow players of Tunisian origin to represent their country," he said.
"I am not speaking only about the Tunisian federation, but about the system in general."
Players turning away
In another recent example, Louey Ben Farhat of German club Karlsruhe was named in Tunisia's World Cup squad but declined the opportunity to join the team.
Haj Ali said: "In the same way that we lost Louey Ben Farhat, who declined a national team call-up despite playing two friendly matches against Haiti and Canada, we also lost Ayari."
Ayari described his performance in Sweden's opening victory as "an indescribable feeling" after helping his country secure their strongest start to a World Cup campaign.
"I am used to scoring beautiful goals, but scoring two goals in the same match, especially in my first World Cup appearance against Tunisia, was exceptional for me," he told Swedish broadcaster SVT.
The midfielder acknowledged the emotional significance of scoring against Tunisia.
"It is the country I feel a strong sense of belonging and emotion for, and which I visit every summer," he said.
Asked about his father's reaction to Tunisia's heavy defeat, Ayari replied: "He is certainly happy for me, but I would rather that you ask him directly."
Tunisian officials approached Ayari in 2021 and offered him a place in the country's 2022 World Cup squad, but he opted to represent Sweden with the support of his father, Azzouz Ayari.
In an interview with Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet, Azzouz Ayari confirmed that Tunisia had offered his son a place in the World Cup squad if he changed his sporting nationality.
However, he added: "I wanted him to play for Sweden. He must give back to the country that supported him."
Ayari's younger brother, Taha, also plays for AIK and has already represented Sweden's under-21 side. He may yet follow his brother's path and choose to represent Sweden at senior level.
Tunisia's current squad includes several players born abroad, including Moutaz Neffati, who was born and raised in Sweden and previously represented Swedish youth teams before choosing Tunisia.
The squad also features Burnley midfielder Hannibal Mejbri, born in France, and promising Canadian-born teenager Rayan Elloumi.
Haj Ali maintained: "We do not have many global stars of Tunisian origin, which is why we must hold on to every player who emerges on the international stage."
