Tunisia Parts Ways with Coach Sami Trabelsi Following Afcon Defeat
Tunisia's national football team coach, Sami Trabelsi, has been dismissed just one day after the team's defeat to Mali in the last 16 of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon).
The 2004 champions faced a challenging match against a depleted Mali side, which played with only ten men for over 90 minutes after Woyo Coulibaly received a red card early in the game. Despite this advantage, the match extended into extra time in Casablanca.
Tunisia initially took the lead in the 88th minute, but a penalty conceded in the sixth minute of added time allowed Mali to equalize. The subsequent penalty shootout saw Tunisia squander their advantage, leading to their elimination.
The Tunisian Football Federation announced via social media that it had mutually agreed to terminate Trabelsi's contract with the national team technical staff.
Trabelsi, 57, had returned to lead the Carthage Eagles last February, having previously stepped down in 2013 following a disappointing group stage exit in the Afcon tournament.
In the latest Afcon edition held in Morocco, Tunisia finished second in Group C, securing a 3-1 victory against Uganda in their opening match, followed by a 3-2 loss to Nigeria and a 1-1 draw with Tanzania.
Following the loss to Mali, Trabelsi expressed his deep disappointment, acknowledging that he bore responsibility for the team's exit.