Ali Boumnijel is a retired Tunisia

Tunisia

Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...

n football goalkeeper.

The Tunisian international

Tunisia national football team

The Tunisia national football team , nicknamed Les Aigles de Carthage , is the national team of Tunisia and is controlled by the Fédération Tunisienne de Football. They have qualified for four FIFA World Cups, the first one in 1978, but have yet to make it out of the first round...

 began his career in FC Gueugnon

FC Gueugnon

Football Club Gueugnonnais was a French association football club based in Gueugnon. The club was formed in 1940 and played in the Championnat National, the third level of French football, before entering liquidation in April 2011. Gueugnon played its home matches at the Stade Jean Laville...

 in France, however without playing any games. His first game as a professional footballer came on October 20, 1991 for AS Nancy in a 1:3 loss to AJ Auxerre

AJ Auxerre

Association de la Jeunesse Auxerroise is a French association football club based in the commune of Auxerre in Burgundy. The club was founded in 1905 and currently play in Ligue 1, the top division of French football. Auxerre plays its home matches at the Stade l'Abbé-Deschamps on the banks of the...

. Afterwards he returned to his previous team, where he played five seasons, until changing to SC Bastia

SC Bastia

Sporting Club de Bastia is a French association football club based in Bastia on the island of Corsica. The club currently plays in the Championnat National, the third division of French football. Bastia previously had stints in both Ligue 1 and Ligue 2...

. He played for Bastia for six years, and then one season at FC Rouen

FC Rouen

Football Club de Rouen 1899 is a French association football club based in Rouen. The club was formed in 1899 and currently play in the Championnat National, the third level of French football. Rouen plays its home matches at the Stade Robert Diochon; named after Robert Diochon, a historic player...

. In 2004 he has problems finding a high-level club in France, much due to his high age. He therefore moved to Tunisia to play for Club Africain

Club Africain

The Club Africain , also known as CA or Al Nadi Al Ifriki, is a Tunisian omnisport club founded in 1920 in Tunis. Club Africain football section is best known for its section of football...

.

In the national team he debuted on November 27, 1991 against Côte d'Ivoire, but he had to wait five years for his next international match. Having established himself as a competitive goalkeeper in time for the 1998 FIFA World Cup

1998 FIFA World Cup

The 1998 FIFA World Cup, the 16th FIFA World Cup, was held in France from 10 June to 12 July 1998. France was chosen as host nation by FIFA on 2 July 1992. The tournament was won by France, who beat Brazil 3-0 in the final...

, Tunisia's coach at that time Henryk Kasperczak

Henryk Kasperczak

Henryk Wojciech Kasperczak is a Polish football manager and a football player.As a player, Kasperczak took part in two FIFA World Cups with Poland, achieving third place in 1974, as well as a silver medal at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Canada.As a manager, Kasperczak enjoyed most...

 still used Chokri El Ouaer

Chokri El Ouaer

Chokri El Ouaer is a former Tunisian football goalkeeper.The Tunisian international began playing for Espérance Sportive de Tunis in 1986, spending his entire career there except for a six-month spell in Genoa in 2001, near the end of his career...

. Ouaer remained the first choice for many years, until he, shortly before the 2002 FIFA World Cup

2002 FIFA World Cup

The 2002 FIFA World Cup was the 17th staging of the FIFA World Cup, held in South Korea and Japan from 31 May to 30 June. It was also the first World Cup held in Asia, and the last in which the golden goal rule was implemented. Brazil won the tournament for a record fifth time, beating Germany 2–0...

, gave in due to back

Human back

The human back is the large posterior area of the human body, rising from the top of the buttocks to the back of the neck and the shoulders. It is the surface opposite to the chest, its height being defined by the vertebral column and its breadth being supported by the ribcage and shoulders...

 problems. Since then Boumnijel has been Tunisia's first choice goalkeeper, playing at the 2004 African Nations Cup.

Aged 40, he was the oldest player

2006 FIFA World Cup squads

This article lists the confirmed national football squads for the 2006 FIFA World Cup tournament held in Germany, between 9 June and 9 July 2006. Before announcing their final squad, several teams named a provisional squad of 23 to 33 players, but each country's final squad of 23 players had to be...

 at the 2006 FIFA World Cup

2006 FIFA World Cup

The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...

, Boumnijel has been praised for his great leadership and goalkeeping skills during the World Cup.

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