Tunisian footballer
Saber Khalifa (Arabic: صابر خليفة; born 14 October 1986) is a Tunisian former footballer who played as a winger and striker.
Club career
Born in Gabès, Khalifa has played in Tunisia, Libya and France for Stade Gabèsien, Espérance, Hammam-Lif, Al-Ahly.[2][3][4]
He joined French club Evian Thonon Gaillard in 2011,[5] and in 2013 he was a finalist in the Coupe de France when his side lost 2–3 to Bordeaux.[6]
On 7 August 2013, Khalifa was linked with a move to Marseille,[7] and he signed a four-year contract 2 days later.[8] He stayed one season, playing 28 league matches and scoring once.[5]
On 26 July 2014, Khalifa was loaned to Club Africain with an option to buy included in the deal.[9]
In June 2016 Kalifa was linked with a move to Qatar to play for Al-Shahania Sports Club but this move eventually fell through.[10] He spent time on loan with Kuwait SC in 2018.[3]
On 14 January 2019, Emirates Club has signed Khalfia for one seasons from Club Africain.[11]
International career
Khalifa made his senior international debut for Tunisia in 2010 against Botswana[5][2] and has appeared in FIFA World Cup qualifying matches.[12]
He was a member of Tunisia's squad at both the 2012 and 2013 Africa Cup of Nations tournaments.[13][14]
Khalifa was recalled to the national team squad in October 2013, having been suspended for the previous month.[15]
In December 2014 he was named as part of Tunisia's provisional squad for the 2015 African Cup of Nations.[16]
He was named in Tunisia's final 23-man squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.[17]
Career statistics
International
- As of 28 June 2018[2]
International goals
- Scores and results list Tunisia's goal tally first.[2]
Personal life
Upon signing with Marseille in August 2013, Khalifa's name was accidentally rendered as "Khlifa".[18] In a video for Marseille's WebTV, he attributed this spelling mistake to the misconceived pronunciation of his name when he arrived in France.[19]
References
- ^ "2018 FIFA World Cup Russia – List of Players" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 4 June 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 June 2018. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
- ^ a b c d Saber Khalifa at National-Football-Teams.com
- ^ a b Saber Khalifa at Soccerway
- ^ Saber Khalifa – UEFA competition record (archive)
- ^ a b c "Saber Khalifa". lequipe.fr. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
- ^ "Evain TG vs Bordeaux". soccerway.com. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
- ^ "Tunisian midfielder Saber Khlifa set to join Marseille". BBC Sport. 7 August 2013. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
- ^ "Tunisia forward Khelifa accepts Marseille challenge". UEFA. 10 August 2013. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
- ^ Rostain, Frédéric (26 July 2014). "Loan agreement reached for Saber Khalifa". Olympique Marseille. Retrieved 27 July 2014.
- ^ "Transfers". dzfoot.com. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
- ^ خليفة ينضم لنادي الإمارات Saber Khalifa joins Emirates Club
- ^ Saber Khalifa – FIFA competition record (archived)
- ^ "Tunisia name their squad for the Africa Cup of Nations". BBC Sport. 11 January 2012. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
- ^ "Nations Cup 2013: Tunisia name 25-man squad". BBC Sport. 20 December 2012. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
- ^ "Saber Khalifa returns to Tunisia squad for play-off". BBC Sport. 2 October 2013. Retrieved 3 October 2013.
- ^ Okeleji, Oluwashina (28 December 2014). "Nations Cup 2015: Bilel Mohsni called up to Tunisia squad". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
- ^ Okeleji, Oluwashina (2 June 2018). "Tunisia World Cup squad: Leicester City's Benalouane in 23-man squad". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
- ^ "L'OM a engagé Saber Khalifa, et non pas Khlifa" [OM hired Saber Khalifa, not Khlifa] (in French). 20 minutes. 13 August 2013. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
- ^ "Mon vrai nom est..." [My real name is....] (in French). OMTV. 13 August 2013. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
- Yoann Touzghar a résilié son contrat au Club Africain‚ lensois.com, 12 June 2016