Tunisia Not Considering Naturalisation of Former Sundowns Star Lucas Ribeiro

The possibility of Lucas Ribeiro Costa switching his international allegiance to Tunisia has attracted attention following his transfer to Espérance de Tunis. However, reports suggest that the Tunisian Football Federation is not currently planning to naturalise the Brazilian forward.

According to a report published by Erem News on November 2, a source close to the Tunisian Football Federation revealed that naturalising Ribeiro is not presently part of the federation's plans.

The development comes amid speculation that the former Mamelodi Sundowns attacker could eventually acquire Tunisian citizenship and become eligible to represent the Carthage Eagles at international level.

Ribeiro, who made a strong impression during his time in South African football, joined Espérance de Tunis in August 2026 following his departure from Sundowns. The 27-year-old committed his future to the Tunisian club by signing a three-year contract that runs until June 2029.

His arrival has sparked interest among Tunisian football supporters, especially considering the country's previous experience with Brazilian-born players who acquired citizenship and went on to represent the national team.

Nevertheless, the source quoted by Erem News indicated that Ribeiro's situation is not currently being treated as a naturalisation priority. It was also suggested that discussions about obtaining citizenship would be premature given how recently the attacker arrived in Tunisia.

One of the major obstacles is the country's citizenship requirements for foreign nationals. Reports indicate that applicants are generally required to have lived in Tunisia for five years before qualifying for naturalisation, making an immediate arrangement unlikely.

Additionally, any potential move would require consultations between the national team's technical team and officials from the football federation before a final decision could be considered.

For now, there is no indication that formal steps have been taken to secure Tunisian citizenship for the Espérance de Tunis forward.

However, Ribeiro's performances could keep the possibility alive, particularly if he continues to impress with his contributions at club level.

Ultimately, his chances of representing Tunisia will depend on meeting the country's citizenship regulations, satisfying international eligibility requirements and whether the football authorities decide to pursue the opportunity in the future.

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