Tunisia have dismissed head coach Sami Trabelsi following the Carthage Eagles’ early exit from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, bringing an end to a troubled campaign that fell well short of expectations.
The Tunisian Football Federation confirmed the decision on Sunday, less than a day after the North Africans were knocked out of the tournament by Mali in the Round of 16. The dramatic encounter ended 1–1 after extra time before Mali edged Tunisia in a tense penalty shootout.
In a brief statement, the federation said the decision to terminate Trabelsi’s contract was reached by mutual agreement and extended to the entire technical crew, citing the team’s failure to advance further in the competition.
“The Executive Committee has decided to end the contractual relationship by mutual consent with the national team’s technical staff,” the federation said.
Tunisia arrived at the tournament in Morocco with high hopes, and early signs suggested they could make a deep run. A convincing 3–1 opening win over Uganda briefly lifted confidence among fans and pundits.
However, those expectations soon faded as inconsistency crept into their performances. Defensive weaknesses were exposed in a 3–2 defeat to Nigeria, while a scrappy 1–1 draw against Tanzania in their final group game raised further concerns about the team’s cohesion.
Those issues resurfaced in the knockout stage. Tunisia took the lead against Mali and appeared in control, especially after their opponents were reduced to ten men early on. But they failed to take advantage of the numerical edge, allowing Mali to fight back and eventually secure victory on penalties.
The premature exit proved decisive for Trabelsi, whose side struggled to assert themselves consistently throughout the tournament.
Tunisia’s elimination at the last-16 stage marks another frustrating chapter for a nation that once ruled African football after winning the AFCON title on home soil in 2004. More than 20 years on, the search for lasting continental success continues, with the federation now under pressure to chart a new course and appoint a coach capable of leading the next phase of rebuilding.
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