Siblings starring in national teams is no new thing in handball. Niklas and Magnus Landin are world champions with the Denmark men’s team. The Netherlands have Kay Smits in the men’s side and Inger Smits in the women’s, who have now won the EHF Champions League and IHF Women’s World Championship, respectively. Brazil star Haniel Langaro’s younger brother Davi Langaro is on court at the 2023 IHF Men’s Junior World Championship. Argentina even had three brothers playing alongside each other for many years: the Simonets — Sebastián, Diego and Pablo.

But there is a new trio in town at Germany/Greece 2023: Tunisian triplets Yassine, Amine and Anis Ben Salem. Triplets in one national team is almost certainly a first in handball. 

The triplets feature in Tunisia’s starting line-up at the 2023 IHF Men’s Junior World Championship, with Yassine and Amine in particular key players in the side, having combined for 22 of the team’s 58 goals in the two games played so far. Yassine has netted 13 and made six assists to be Tunisia’s top scorer and one of the standout attackers at Germany/Greece 2023. 

Tunisia are in the race for the main round from group B. Having secured one victory against Algeria in round 1, they count two points in their account and sit third in the group ahead of the final preliminary round day on Friday. In round 2, they were defeated by Germany — the group leaders who are already through to the main round. 

“We were really concentrated on this match. We wanted to do our best. But we didn’t have the possibility to do more,” Yassine told ihf.info after the round 2 game. 

Algeria will face Germany in round 3, while Tunisia play Libya. The results of the two games will determine whether it is Tunisia or Algeria who proceed — and Tunisia can give themselves the best chance by taking a win versus Libya. 

“We need to play strong and win this match to pass to the second round,” said Yassine. 

After starting handball with these brothers, Yassine has followed his own path to France, where he dons the club jersey of Chartres. But playing in the national team and being together before his move to France meant they spent even more time together than most siblings might. 

“We started handball in the academy together, and after that, all our time was together,” said Yassine, adding that for the three to work together on court is not like playing with anyone else — the connection is seamless and natural. “We play together automatically.” 

The triplets are not alone in playing handball — they have two other brothers, one older and one younger, who play as well. The youngest brother is even in the Tunisia team for the 2008 generation.