Tunisia have officially severed ties with head coach Sami Trabelsi following the Carthage Eagles’ premature exit from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, Afrosport reports.
This decision comes in the wake of the team’s elimination in the round of 16 against Mali, which marked a sudden conclusion to Trabelsi’s tenure with the national team. Tunisia’s journey ended after an exhilarating match that concluded 1–1 after extra time, with Mali advancing through a penalty shootout.
Despite taking an early lead and enjoying a numerical advantage when Mali were reduced to 10 men, Tunisia failed to capitalise on the opportunity. Mali displayed resilience, extended the match into extra time, and ultimately kept their composure during the penalty shootout to secure advancement to the next round.
Less than a day after the defeat, the Tunisian Football Federation (FTF) revealed the coaching change, stating that the decision was reached after discussions with the technical staff.
This shift occurs amid growing frustration among fans and escalating criticism of Tunisia’s performances in the tournament, where expectations were notably high following a strong start in the group stage.
