Tunisia Sack Coach Sami Trabelsi After Early AFCON 2025 Exit
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.
