Tunisia sack coach after AFCON 2025 exit

Tunisia have dismissed head coach Sami Trabelsi following the Carthage Eagles’ premature exit from the 2025 TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations, drawing the curtain on a turbulent campaign that ended in disappointment and public frustration.

The Tunisian Football Federation confirmed the decision on Sunday, less than 24 hours after Tunisia were eliminated by Mali in the Round of 16.

The tightly contested encounter ended 1–1 after extra time before Mali edged the North Africans in a dramatic penalty shootout.

In a brief statement, the federation said the decision was taken by mutual agreement with Trabelsi and his technical staff, citing the team’s failure to progress further in the tournament.

“The Executive Committee has decided to terminate the contractual relationship by mutual consent with the entire technical staff of the national team,” the CAF website quoted FTF as saying.

The move follows growing anger among fans and pundits, who had expected Tunisia to mount a serious challenge in Morocco.

Early signs were encouraging, as the Carthage Eagles opened their campaign with an impressive 3–1 victory over Uganda that briefly reignited belief in a deep tournament run.

But inconsistency soon crept in.

A 3–2 defeat to Nigeria exposed defensive frailties, while a laboured 1–1 draw against Tanzania in their final group match raised further doubts about the team’s balance and resilience.

According to the release, those concerns came sharply into focus in the knockout phase.

Against Mali, Tunisia took the lead and appeared poised to seize control, particularly after their opponents were reduced to ten men early in the match.

Yet they failed to capitalise on their numerical advantage, allowing Mali to claw their way back and force extra time before sealing victory on penalties.

The early elimination ultimately proved decisive for Trabelsi, whose side struggled to impose themselves consistently over the course of the competition.

Tunisia’s exit at the Round of 16 marks another sobering chapter for a nation that once stood atop African football after lifting the AFCON trophy on home soil in 2004.

More than two decades on, the search for sustained continental success continues, with the federation now facing fresh questions over the direction of the national team and who will be tasked with leading its next rebuild.