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Tag: Tunisia

Tunisia Sack Coach Sami Trabelsi After Early AFCON 2025 Exit

Wale busari03 mins

Tunisia has dismissed head coach Sami Trabelsi following the Carthage Eagles’ early exit from the 2025 TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations, ending a turbulent campaign that left fans and pundits frustrated. The Tunisian Football Federation announced the decision on Sunday, less than 24 hours after Tunisia was eliminated by Mali in the Round of 16. The match ended 1–1 after extra time, with Mali prevailing in a tense penalty shootout. In a brief statement, the federation said the termination was by mutual consent with Trabelsi and his technical staff, citing the team’s failure to advance 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 reported. The decision follows growing disappointment among supporters, who had expected Tunisia to make a serious run in Morocco. The team began the tournament with a strong 3–1 win over Uganda, raising hopes of a deep campaign, but inconsistencies quickly emerged. A 3–2 loss to Nigeria exposed defensive weaknesses, while a 1–1 draw against Tanzania in the final group game raised questions about the squad’s balance and resilience. Those issues were highlighted in the knockout stage, where Tunisia initially took the lead against Mali and even had a numerical advantage after Mali was reduced to ten men. Despite this, they failed to secure victory, allowing Mali to recover and ultimately win on penalties. Trabelsi’s dismissal underscores Tunisia’s ongoing struggle to maintain consistent success in African football. Once continental champions at home in 2004, the nation continues to seek sustained excellence. The federation now faces the task of rebuilding the national team and identifying a new coach to lead its next chapter.

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Motsepe Insists 2025 AFCON Will Proceed In Morocco Despite Nationwide Protests

Morocco 2025: Mali, Senegal Favored Against Tunisia, Sudan

Wale busari012 mins

The Round of 16 of perhaps the biggest and most glamorous Africa Cup of Nations finals in history begins on Saturday evening, with two matches each on Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, and with expectations high on the parts of playing personnel, coaching crews, supporters and stakeholders of the beautiful game on the continent. Senegal Vs Sudan (Grand Stade de Tanger: Saturday, 5pm) The Lions of Teranga are making their 17th AFCON appearance and must be fancied to progress to the Round of 8, against the Falcons of Jediane. They will miss their defence bulwark Kalidou Koulibaly, who will not be available for the duel in Tangier. While Senegal finally claimed the trophy in 2021 in Cameroon after a number of runner-up positions, Sudan were victorious on home soil in 1970. The Falcons are making their 10th AFCON appearance, while the Lions are here for the 17th time. Sudan are coached by Ghanaian James Kwesi Appiah, and Senegal by Pape Thiaw. Mali Vs Tunisia (Stade Mohamed V, Casablanca: Saturday, 8pm) Tunisia’s Carthage Eagles finished second in Group C, won by Nigeria, and should expect an explosive encounter against the Eagles of Mali. The North African giants are the AFCON’s most consistent team, appearing in their 17th consecutive finals, and 22nd overall. They won the title on home soil in 2004. Mali’s Eagles finished as runners-up at the 1972 finals in Cameroon. They are coached by Belgian Tom Saintfiet, while Tunisia have former captain Sami Trabelsi as the head coach. Morocco Vs Tanzania (Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah: Sunday, 5pm) The Atlas Lions, semi-finalists at the 2022 FIFA World Cup finals, see this tournament as one specially carved for them to win. They started well and finished the group phase with aplomb, hammering 2012 champions Zambia 3-0. They are making their 20th appearance in a competition they have won only once before – when the event was staged on league basis in Ethiopia in 1976. Brahim Diaz and Ayoub El Kaabi have three goals each in the tournament, and captain Achraf Hakimi, Azzedine Ounahi and Sofyan Amrabat are stalwarts to be respected. Tanzania’s Taifa Stars are in the Round of 16 despite finishing third in Group C with two points. Captain Mbwana Samatta will push his team-mates to attain the kind of form they did in holding Tunisia to a 1-1 draw in their last match of the group phase. The Stars are making only their fourth appearance at the AFCON, and have set a record of reaching the knockout rounds for the first time. South Africa Vs Cameroon (Stade El Barid, Rabat: Sunday, 8pm) Champions on home soil in 1996, the Bafana Bafana will fancy their chances against a Cameroonian side that entered the tournament in chaos, but has managed to steady things and cobble together a structure. Cameroon have won the title on five occasions (1984, 1988, 2000, 2002 and 2017) and are fancied to make this encounter difficult for Bafana. David Pagou, leading Cameroon from the dug-out, will bank on Etta Eyong and Bryan Mbeumo to take the battle to the Bafana and get early goals. Cameroon are making their 21st appearance while the Bafana are making only their 11th. Egypt Vs Bénin Republic (Grand Stade d’Agadir: Monday, 5pm) Seven-time champions Egypt, coached by former captain Hossam Hassan, are seen as one of the favourites. Mohamed Salah, Omar Marmoush, Mohamed Hany, Mahmoud Trezeguet and goalkeeper Mohamed El-Shenawy (picked as goalkeeper of the group phase) can turn a game on its head in a couple of minutes. This is Egypt’s 27th AFCON appearance. Bénin will be no push-overs in Agadir. Coach Gernot Rohr is an old war-horse and has captain Khaled Adénon and Steve Mounié to drive his gameplan. Nigeria Vs Mozambique (Complexe Sportif de Fès: Monday, 8pm) Nigeria, three-time champions, have never lost in five previous meetings with The Mambas of Mozambique. Their only AFCON meeting ended in a 3-0 thrashing for the southern Africans in Angola 16 years ago, with a brace by Peter Odemwingie and one by Obafemi Martins. Captain Wilfred Ndidi and some of the other first-teamers rested for the clash with Uganda are expected to return, with Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman leading the search for goals. The Super Eagles are making their 21st AFCON appearance. The Mambas are making only their fifth AFCON appearance, but gave Cameroon a tough time in their final group phase clash in Agadir on Wednesday. Their best outing before now has been a quarter-final berth in 2021. Algeria Vs DR Congo (Complexe Sportif Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan: Tuesday, 5pm) Two-time winners in 1990 and 2019, the Fennecs are making their 20th AFCON appearance, and have a talisman who almost always delivers. They won four of their matches in qualifying, scoring 11 goals and conceding only two. Captain Riyad Mahrez is to be feared all the time he touches the ball, and he has Ismael Bennacer and Baghdad Bounedjah as able assistants. DR Congo are highly motivated by qualification for the final FIFA World Cup Playoff Tournament in Mexico, where they will play only one match to qualify for the finals. They have captain Chancel Mbemba to lead the orchestra, with Cédric Bakambu, Yoane Wissa and Meshack Elia also in great form. Cote d’Ivoire Vs Burkina Faso (Grand Stade de Marrakech: Tuesday, 8pm) Cup holders Cote d’Ivoire face tough customers Stallions of Burkina Faso for a place in the Round of 8, with their neighbours to the north desirous of stopping their march towards retaining the title. Runners-up in 2013 in South Africa (to Nigeria), Burkina Faso will throw the kitchen sink at their more illustrious neighbours, and they have captain Bertrand Traoré and Edmond Tapsoba to lead their charge. Heroes of their 2023 triumph, Franck Kessie, Simon Adingra, Oumar Diakite and Serge Aurier are still available, and whichever team under-rates the Elephants does so at its own peril. ROLL OF HONOURS Year Winner Score Runner-up Host 1957 Egypt 4-0 Ethiopia Sudan 1959 Egypt 2-1 Sudan Egypt…

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AFCON: Nigeria Edge Tunisia 3-2 as Lookman Inspires Super Eagles to Knockout Stage

Wale busari03 mins

Ademola Lookman delivered a standout performance as Nigeria edged Tunisia 3-2 to secure qualification for the AFCON round of 16, ending a three-game winless streak against the Eagles of Carthage. The match began at a high tempo, though clear chances were limited early on. Hannibal Mejbri hurried an effort for Tunisia, while Victor Osimhen missed two headed opportunities from promising positions inside the opening 11 minutes. Osimhen then saw a close-range finish ruled out for offside after reacting quickest to Akor Adams’ saved shot. Nigeria gradually asserted control, even if the scoreboard did not immediately reflect it. Osimhen again headed wide from a Calvin Bassey cross, while Tunisia signaled intent when Ali Abdi fired over Stanley Nwabali’s bar. Wilfred Ndidi responded with an effort that flew over at the other end. The breakthrough came in the 44th minute when Lookman’s precise delivery found Osimhen, who broke free from Montassar Talbi to power a header home and celebrate with visible relief. The Super Eagles carried that momentum into the second half and doubled their lead within five minutes. Ndidi rose to meet Lookman’s corner, nodding in his first goal for Nigeria. Lookman then tested the defense himself as Tunisian frustration grew, worsened by Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane leaving the pitch injured after a collision with Nwabali. Nigeria struck again in the 67th minute through a slick attacking move. Lookman danced past Yan Valery and finished clinically, despite defenders racing back toward the goal line. Tunisia mounted a late fightback. Talbi reduced the deficit by glancing Mejbri’s free-kick past Nwabali with 15 minutes remaining. The tension increased in the 87th minute when Bright Osayi-Samuel conceded a penalty for handball, which Abdi converted to make it 3-2. Ferjani Sassi came close to completing the comeback, but his header drifted wide, allowing Nigeria to hold on. The result gives the Super Eagles seven wins from their last eight AFCON group-stage matches and confirms their place in the knockout rounds. For Tunisia, the defeat ends a five-match unbeaten run, though they remain second in the group ahead of their clash with Tanzania.

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Morocco 2025: Nigeria, Tunisia Battle for Three Points in Top-of-the-table Clash

Wale busari07 mins

One of Africa’s most storied and remarkable football rivalries makes another stop on Saturday, this time in the Moroccan city of Fès, as Nigeria and Tunisia clash in a top-of-the-table encounter of the 35th Africa Cup of Nations, at the 35,000-capacity Complexe Sportif de Fès. With three points taken by each team from their opening games, the stage is set for fiery exchanges as Coaches Eric Chelle and Sami Trabelsi, themselves former players, will be determined to push their teams to achieve victory and book an early spot in the tournament’s Round of 16. There have been a total of 21 matches between both teams, dating back 64 years, with each having won six times, and the remaining nine matches drawn (though some eventually went into penalty shootouts). Of the three that stretched to penalty shootouts, Nigeria won two, including a memorable 1982 FIFA World Cup qualifying fixture and an Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final duel that flowed back and forth in the Egyptian city of Port Said 19 years ago. Tunisia won the lottery in the 2004 AFCON that they hosted, edging the Eagles to set up a Final clash with Morocco’s Atlas Lions. Both teams have staged walkouts against each other, with Nigeria leaving the pitch in an AFCON qualifying match in Tunis in December 1961, after a controversial goal, and Tunisia opting to do the same when Nigeria scored an equalizing goal through Baba Otu Mohammed in an AFCON bronze-medal match in Kumasi in March 1978. When the Carthage Eagles pipped the Super Eagles 1-0 in the Round of 16 at the AFCON in Cameroon four years ago, it was their first victory over Nigeria in a competitive match since 1985, when they won a 1986 World Cup qualifying match 2-0 in Tunis. There have been high drama, muscle-flexing, and boardroom blowouts, and Saturday’s encounter will be another game of intensity and power-play as Nigeria seek to establish themselves as one of the favourites for the trophy and Tunisia, who will be going to next year’s FIFA World Cup finals, determined to fight for a second continental title. Trabelsi, who was in the squad that Khaled Badra led to win Tunisia’s only AFCON title, at home in 2004, has the likes of Captain Ferjani Sassi, Ali Maãloul, Hannibal Mejbri, Dylan Bronn, Ben Ali, Ali Ben Romdhane and Yan Valery who can turn a game on its head within a split second. They showed their deadliness in sweeping aside Uganda in Rabat on Tuesday evening. For Eric Chelle, the triumvirate of Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman and Samuel Chukwueze at the fore, and the duo of Calvin Bassey and Semi Ajayi at the rear provide some assurance. With Osimhen still looking for his first goal of the tournament, the Carthage Eagles could be under tremendous pressure from Nigeria’s ace forward who boasts 31 goals in 47 matches. Midfield lubricator Alexander Iwobi, likely to win his 93rd cap, will be expected to play a key role in Nigeria’s challenge for the three points. Captain Wilfred Ndidi will surely be called upon several times to break up the play of the fast-paced Tunisians. SUPER EAGLES, CARTHAGE EAGLES IN HISTORY 25 Nov 1961: Nigeria 2-1 Tunisia (AFCONq: Lagos) 10 Dec 1961: Tunisia 2-2 Nigeria (AFCONq: Tunis): Match inconclusive as Nigeria walked off the pitch 25 Sep 1977: Tunisia 0-0 Nigeria (WCq: Tunis) 12 Nov 1977: Nigeria 0-1 Tunisia (WCq: Lagos) 16 Mar 1978: Tunisia 0-2 Nigeria (AFCON: Kumasi): Match at 1-1 when Tunisia walked off the pitch 29 Jun 1980: Tunisia 2-0 Nigeria (WCq: Tunis) 12 Jul 1980: Nigeria 2-0 Tunisia (WCq: Lagos): Nigeria win 4-3 on penalties 29 Sep 1984: Tunisia 5-0 Nigeria (Friendly: Tunis) 06 Jul 1985: Nigeria 1-0 Tunisia (WCq: Lagos) 20 Jul 1985: Tunisia 2-0 Nigeria (WCq: Tunis) 22 Feb 1992: Tunisia 1-1 Nigeria (SCSA: Tunis) 09 Aug 1997: Tunisia 2-0 Nigeria (LG Cup: Tunis) 23 Jan 2000: Nigeria 4-2 Tunisia (AFCON: Lagos) 11 Feb 2004: Tunisia 1-1 Nigeria (AFCON: Rades): Tunisia win 4-3 on penalties 04 Feb 2006: Tunisia 1-1 Nigeria (AFCON: Port Said): Nigeria win 6-5 on penalties 20 Jun 2009: Tunisia 0-0 Nigeria (WCq: Rades) 06 Sep 2009: Nigeria 2-2 Tunisia (WCq: Abuja) 22 Jan 2016: Tunisia 1-1 Nigeria (CHAN: Kigali) 17 Jul 2019: Nigeria 1-0 Tunisia (AFCON: Cairo) 13 Oct 2020: Tunisia 1-1 Nigeria (Friendly: St. Veit, Austria) 23 Jan 2022: Tunisia 1-0 Nigeria (AFCON: Garoua)

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Tunisian Man Sentenced To Death For Criticizing President Saied On Facebook

Wale busari03 mins

A Tunisian court has sentenced 56-year-old day labourer Saber Chouchane to death for allegedly insulting President Kais Saied and threatening state security through Facebook posts, a verdict that has drawn widespread condemnation from human rights advocates and citizens alike. Chouchane, who has limited education, was arrested last year after sharing critical comments about President Saied online. His lawyer, Oussama Bouthalja, described the ruling as “shocking and unprecedented,” saying it marked a dangerous escalation in Tunisia’s crackdown on dissent. “The judge in the Nabeul court sentenced the man to death over Facebook posts. It is a shocking and unprecedented ruling,” Bouthalja said, confirming that an appeal has already been filed. Tunisia still hands down death sentences, but no execution has taken place in more than three decades. Chouchane’s brother, Jamal, said the family was devastated by the news. “We can’t believe it. We are a family suffering from poverty, and now oppression and injustice have been added to poverty,” he said. The decision has sparked outrage across Tunisia and social media, with many accusing the government of silencing critics through intimidation and fear. Activists and opposition figures warned that the verdict could further damage Tunisia’s reputation and deepen concerns about freedom of speech. Since dissolving parliament and assuming near-total power in 2021, President Saied has faced mounting criticism from opposition leaders and rights organizations. Many of his political opponents and critics remain detained on various charges, after being labelled “traitors” by the president. While it remains unclear whether the death sentence will be enforced, the case has reignited fierce debate over Tunisia’s human rights record, the independence of its judiciary, and the government’s growing intolerance for dissenting voices online.  

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Nigeria, Egypt, Others Battle for London 2026 World Championship Spots in Tunis

Fola Badmus04 mins

Africa’s table tennis giants, Nigeria and Egypt, will lead the charge for qualification to the 2026 ITTF World Team Championships in London, United Kingdom, as the continent’s top teams converge in Tunis, Tunisia, for the 2025 ITTF African Championships from October 12 to 19. London 2026 marks a historic centenary celebration, returning the World Championships to the city where it all began in 1926. The Tunis tournament serves as the official African qualification event, with the top-performing men’s and women’s teams securing their place on the sport’s grandest stage. In the men’s division, Nigeria—West Africa’s dominant force—and Egypt—the North African powerhouse—will be joined by Tunisia, Algeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Madagascar, Uganda, Ethiopia, South Africa, Angola, Cameroon, Congo Brazzaville, Benin Republic, DR Congo, and Morocco. The women’s field features Egypt, Nigeria, Benin Republic, Ghana, Ethiopia, Botswana, Côte d’Ivoire, Uganda, Madagascar, DR Congo, Cameroon, South Africa, Angola, Algeria, and host nation Tunisia. With London in sight, the battle for qualification will intensify during the final three days of the continental tournament, where all eyes will be on Nigeria and Egypt as they renew their storied rivalry. According to the ITTF, London 2026 will feature 64 teams in both the men’s and women’s events—an expansion from the previous 40-team format. This growth reflects the global rise of table tennis and opens the door for more nations to compete at the highest level. The tournament will unfold across two iconic London venues. The Copper Box Arena will host the opening rounds from April 28 to May 1, followed by the main draw at Wembley Arena from May 2 to 10, where the world’s elite will compete for the ultimate prize. Each gender will see 64 teams divided into 16 groups of four, with round-robin matches determining progression. A key innovation in the format is the introduction of Stage 1a and Stage 1b: Stage 1a features the top eight teams (seven highest-ranked plus host nation) split into two groups. All eight automatically advance, with group results determining seedings. Stage 1b includes the remaining 56 teams across 14 groups. The 14 group winners and six best second-placed teams qualify directly. The remaining eight second-placed teams enter a preliminary knockout round, with four winners completing the 32-team main draw. From the first serve at the Copper Box to the final point at Wembley, London 2026 promises to celebrate not only the present strength of global table tennis but also the remarkable journey that began in the same city a century ago.

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Mission X: Super Falcons Trounce Tunisia, Look Forward to Clash with Botswana

Fola Badmus04 mins

A fourth minute strike by six-time African Player of the Year Asisat Oshoala steered the Super Falcons to a comfortable 3-0 victory over their Tunisian counterparts as the nine-time champions got their challenge for a 10th continental title smoothly off the ground in Casablanca on Sunday. Rinsola Babajide, from the left side of the field, floated the ball from a free-kick, and as defender Ashley Plumptre missed contact, the USA-based Oshoala met the ball with a glancing header to force the ball past goalkeeper Soulaima Jabrani at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Morocco’s industrial and economic capital. Oshoala came close to doubling the advantage in the 16th minute, but defender Norhene Bettoumi was alert and diverted the ball as the forward was set to pull the trigger from Toni Payne’s cross. Deborah Abiodun’s left-footed shot in the 37th minute did not have enough power behind it, but two minutes into added time of the first period, Babajide packed enough power into her shot as she stormed past Chaima Alabbassi and blasted past Jabrani for Nigeria’s second of the evening. Just before the break, Ashleigh Plumptre thought she had got Nigeria’s third off a header from Babajide’s corner kick, but her effort was disallowed. In the second half, Plumptre, forever adventurous, rattled Jabrani with a sharp shot, and four minutes later, substitute Esther Okoronkwo’s sharp delivery begged for connection. Osinachi Ohale missed from close range as Nigeria chased the ball in a melee from a free-kick in the 62nd minute. At the other end, the veteran defender was fortunate not to be penalized after bringing down the lively Salma Zemzem in Nigeria’s vital area. True to character, Okoronkwo bustled and hustled, and came pretty close with nine minutes left when she turned a defender and saw the ball hit the upfront from her shot. Three minutes later, she was jumping for joy when her knockdown, from Plumptre’s cross, found fellow substitute Chinwendu Ihezuo in the right place to slot the ball past Jabrani for Nigeria’s third. In added time, Plumptre’s clever header almost got Jabrani befuddled, but there was still time for Zemzem to rattle goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie’s crossbar. Victory handed the Super Falcons three precious points and momentary leadership of group B, ahead of the clash between Algeria and Botswana.

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Continental Fencing Heavyweights Storm Nigeria for 23rd African Championships

Fola Badmus03 mins

Egypt and Tunisia, two of Africa’s fencing powerhouses, have arrived in Nigeria ahead of the 23rd African Fencing Championships, which will take place at Charterhouse Lagos from Wednesday, June 25, to Sunday, June 29. The five-day, 12-event tournament will feature top fencers from across the continent, all vying for the 12 gold medals up for grabs in both individual and team events. Egypt, the most decorated nation in African fencing, has arrived with the largest contingent. Their squad is headlined by the El-Sayed brothers—Olympic bronze medallist Mohamed El-Sayed and world junior champion Mahmoud El-Sayed. Mohamed, 22, claimed bronze at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games and also won gold at the 2022 Mediterranean Games. His younger brother, Mahmoud, recently clinched gold at the 2025 Junior World Championships in Wuxi, China, and currently holds the world No. 1 junior ranking. The Egyptian team, which landed in Lagos aboard an EgyptAir flight from Cairo, is determined to defend the overall title they secured in 2024. Tunisia, another fencing powerhouse, has also touched down in Lagos with a strong squad led by Paris 2024 Olympic silver medallist Farès Ferjani. The 27-year-old is the reigning champion in the individual men’s sabre and will also lead Tunisia’s men’s sabre team. Other participating nations, including Mauritius, Angola, Rwanda, South Africa, Guinea, Morocco, Libya, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Senegal, are expected to arrive on Tuesday, June 24, ahead of the tournament’s opening day. Meanwhile, the Nigeria Fencing Federation has expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support received from corporate sponsors and individuals, particularly Charterhouse, the host venue, which also staged the 2024 World Cup. Federation President Adeyinka Samuel stated: “We are truly grateful for the support from government agencies and corporate bodies in helping to put Nigeria on the global fencing map through the hosting of this continental championship. Charterhouse has been a steadfast partner since the 2024 World Cup, and their continued support is deeply appreciated. We hope this inspires other institutions to follow their lead.”

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