Zoubeir Baya
# Zoubeir Baya

Zoubeir Baya (or Beya) (Arabic: زبير بية; born 15 May 1971) is a Tunisian former professional footballer with a distinguished career as one of his country's most accomplished football exports. Baya, an attacking midfielder, displayed considerable skill and enterprise on the international scene and provided the North African nation with vast international experience.

Twice named Tunisian Footballer of the Year, Baya suited up for his country at the 1998 World Cup in France and at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. He was also a key member of Tunisian sides that competed at the 1998, 2000 and 2002 African Nations Cup finals. He made his international swansong at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, retiring shortly afterwards.

## Career

Born in M'saken, Baya began his football career at Étoile du Sahel, helping the Tunisian club win the African Cup Winners' Cup. He made his debut for Tunisia on 4 September 1994 against Guinea-Bissau where he scored his first international goal. Over the past eight years, he has become an integral player for his country, earning 81 caps and scoring 18 goals for his country.

His hard work at Étoile du Sahel did not go unnoticed, as 2. Bundesliga club SC Freiburg signed him to a contract in 1997. In four seasons in Germany, Baya established himself as a star player and a regular starter, scoring 21 goals.

In 2001, Baya was on the move again, this time venturing to Turkey after signing with Beşiktaş. Baya was instrumental in helping Tunisia qualify for its second consecutive World Cup finals. He started in all eight games during the qualification round and scored six goals, finishing as his country's top goal scorer and one of the bright spots on a team wracked by inconsistency in the previous year. After the 2002 FIFA World Cup, he returned to Étoile du Sahel to play out the rest of his playing career.

After completing two seasons with Etoile du Sahel he returned to home club CS M'saken for a season in the Tunisian second division before retiring.

## International goals

    Scores and results list Tunisia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Baya goal.

List of international goals scored by Zoubeir Baya :

| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 10 June 1994 | Stade Léopold Sédar Senghor, Dakar, Senegal | Senegal | 1–2 | 2–2 | Friendly |
| 2 | 10 June 1994 | Stade Léopold Sédar Senghor, Dakar, Senegal | Senegal | 2–2 | 2–2 | Friendly |
| 3 | 29 January 1995 | Stade El Menzah, Tunis, Tunisia | Mauritania | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1996 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
| 4 | 4 June 1995 | Stade de Kégué, Lomé, Togo | Togo | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1996 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
| 5 | 15 December 1995 | Stade El Menzah, Tunis, Tunisia | Libya | 3–1 | 4–1 | Friendly |
| 6 | 2 January 1996 | Stade El Menzah, Tunis, Tunisia | Guinea | 1–0 | 3–0 | Friendly |
| 7 | 4 January 1996 | Princess Magogo Stadium, Durban, South Africa | Angola | 3–0 | 5–1 | Friendly |
| 8 | 28 January 1996 | Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein, South Africa | Gabon | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1996 Africa Cup of Nations |
| 9 | 31 January 1996 | Kings Park Stadium, Durban, South Africa | Zambia | 2–0 | 4–2 | 1996 Africa Cup of Nations |
| 10 | 12 January 1997 | Stade El Menzah, Tunis, Tunisia | Egypt | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 11 | 17 August 1997 | Stade El Menzah, Tunis, Tunisia | Namibia | 1–0 | 4–0 | 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 12 | 17 August 1997 | Stade El Menzah, Tunis, Tunisia | Namibia | 3–0 | 4–0 | 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 13 | 27 February 1999 | Stade El Menzah, Tunis, Tunisia | Uganda | 4–0 | 6–0 | 2000 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
| 14 | 6 June 1999 | Stade El Menzah, Tunis, Tunisia | Algeria | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2000 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
| 15 | 8 July 2000 | Stade El Menzah, Tunis, Tunisia | Madagascar | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 16 | 25 February 2001 | Stade El Menzah, Tunis, Tunisia | DR Congo | 5–0 | 6–0 | 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 17 | 9 May 2001 | Stade El Menzah, Tunis, Tunisia | Liberia | 3–0 | 7–0 | Friendly |
| 18 | 9 May 2001 | Stade El Menzah, Tunis, Tunisia | Liberia | 7–0 | 7–0 | Friendly |
| 19 | 1 July 2001 | Stade El Menzah, Tunis, Tunisia | Congo | 3–0 | 6–0 | 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 20 | 1 July 2001 | Stade El Menzah, Tunis, Tunisia | Congo | 5–0 | 6–0 | 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 21 | 15 July 2001 | Stade des Martyrs, Kinshasa, Congo DR | DR Congo | 2–0 | 3–0 | 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 22 | 15 July 2001 | Stade des Martyrs, Kinshasa, Congo DR | DR Congo | 3–0 | 3–0 | 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 23 | 20 March 2002 | Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway | Norway | 1 - 1 | 1–2 | Friendly |
| 24 | 30 April 2002 | Stade El Menzah, Tunis, Tunisia | Malta | 2–1 | 2–1 | Friendly |
| 25 | 25 May 2002 | Mohammed Al-Hamad Stadium, Kuwait City, Kuwait | Kuwait | 1–0 | 3–1 | Friendly |
| 26 | 25 May 2002 | Mohammed Al-Hamad Stadium, Kuwait City, Kuwait | Kuwait | 2–0 | 3–1 | Friendly |
| 27 | 25 May 2002 | Mohammed Al-Hamad Stadium, Kuwait City, Kuwait | Kuwait | 3–1 | 3–1 | Friendly |
