Reason why Sebastian Tounekti and Celtic F.C. striker will miss four(4) matches against Aberdeen, Livingston, Motherwell, Rangers

Sebastian Tounekti has made a blistering start to life at Celtic.

However, the Hoops will have to cope without him in December, as he is set to represent his native Tunisia at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. Despite earning just three senior caps so far, Tounekti has already appeared in recent World Cup qualifiers and, with his strong club form in Europe, he looks likely to make Sami Trabelsi’s final squad.

That raises the question: how many games could Celtic be forced to play without him? And if Tunisia enjoy a deep run in the competition, how much longer might his absence last?

The tournament, hosted by Morocco, begins on December 21, with defending champions Ivory Coast looking to retain their crown. Tunisia open their campaign on December 23, meaning Tounekti will already be unavailable before then due to training camps and travel commitments.

Tunisia’s Group Fixtures:

• Tunisia vs Uganda – December 23, 14:30 (UK time)

• Nigeria vs Tunisia – December 27, 12:00 (UK time)

• Tanzania vs Tunisia – December 30, 17:00 (UK time)

That second group match sets up a direct meeting between Tounekti and Kelechi Iheanacho, who will also be missing for Celtic during the same period.

Celtic matches Tounekti will miss during the group stage:

• Celtic vs Aberdeen – Sunday, December 21 (Premiership)

• Livingston vs Celtic – Saturday, December 27 (Premiership)

• Motherwell vs Celtic – Tuesday, December 30 (Premiership)

• Celtic vs Rangers – Saturday, January 3 (Premiership)

If Tunisia progress to the knockout rounds, Celtic could face an even tougher situation, with both Tounekti and Iheanacho unavailable. The final is scheduled for January 18, which means Tounekti might also miss:

• Celtic vs Dundee United – Saturday, January 10, 2026 (Premiership)

• Scottish Cup Fourth Round – weekend of January 17, 2026

• Bologna vs Celtic – Thursday, January 22, 2026 (Europa League)

This presents a real challenge for Brendan Rodgers, who certainly wouldn’t want to see a Tunisia vs Nigeria final, despite the pride it would bring for his players.

In Tounekti’s absence, Celtic fans will be hoping Michel-Ange Balikwisha finally finds form, as his start has been underwhelming. Daizen Maeda may be forced to lead the line, but with Jota still sidelined long-term, Rodgers will need Balikwisha and Yang to step up and fill the void on the left flank.