Tunisia have announced the sacking of national team coach Sami Trabelsi just one day after their dramatic 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) last-16 defeat to Mali. The 2004 Afcon champions were eliminated despite dominating parts of the match, highlighting a disappointing end to their tournament campaign.

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Tunisia vs Mali: Match Overview

The match, played in Casablanca, saw Tunisia in control for much of the game, even after Mali was reduced to 10 men early on following Woyo Coulibaly’s red card.

Tunisia appeared set for victory when they scored in the 88th minute, only to concede a last-minute penalty in stoppage time. The contest proceeded to a shootout, where Tunisia ultimately failed to convert their advantage, resulting in a heartbreaking exit from the tournament.

Trabelsi described the conceding of the late penalty as “incomprehensible” and took full responsibility for the team’s elimination, stating that the defeat caused “great disappointment and pain.”

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Trabelsi’s Tenure with Tunisia

Sami Trabelsi, 57, had returned to manage the Carthage Eagles in February 2025 for his second spell, having previously resigned after nearly two years in charge in 2013 following a group-stage exit at Afcon.

Under Trabelsi, Tunisia finished second in Group C, achieving:

• A 3-1 opening victory against Uganda
• A narrow 3-2 loss to Nigeria
• A 1-1 draw with Tanzania

Despite qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, the early knockout at Afcon highlighted ongoing challenges in converting group-stage performances into tournament success.

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Official Statement and Termination

The Tunisian Football Federation confirmed the dismissal via social media, stating that it had:

“…decided to terminate the contractual relationship by mutual consent with the national team technical staff.”

The decision comes amid widespread disappointment among fans and commentators, who had expected a stronger showing from a team featuring World Cup-qualified talent.

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Key Takeaways

• Tunisia were eliminated in the last-16 of the 2025 Afcon by Mali, despite playing against 10 men for over 90 minutes.
• Coach Sami Trabelsi was sacked following the defeat, with the Tunisian Football Federation announcing the termination by mutual consent.
• Tunisia had qualified for the 2026 World Cup but failed to progress beyond the round of 16 in Morocco.
• Trabelsi’s second spell with Tunisia lasted less than a year, with his team recording one win, one draw, and one group-stage loss before the knockout exit.