FTF chairman Hamouda Ben Ammar told reporters on Wednesday that he will contact FIFA president Joseph Sepp Blatter, who is in Egypt to attend the CAF Congress, and urge him to force the French side to let Yahia link-up with the national team.

The Ligue 1 side refused to go of Yahia, quoting FIFA regulations that state that a player can only be released for national duty if the club is given at least 15 days notice.

The 24-year-old Yahia received a late call-up after Feyenoord defender Karim Saidi sustained a last-minute injury that ruled him out of the tournament.

St Etienne already have five players called up by their national teams to compete in the African Cup of Nations.

Tunisia play in Group C of the ACN that includes South Africa, Zambia and Guinea.

The Carthage Eagles will begin their title defense against Guinea in Alexandria on Sunday.