Tunisia have parted ways with head coach Sami Trabelsi following the Carthage Eagles’ early exit from the 2025 TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations, bringing an end to a turbulent campaign marked by disappointment and growing public frustration.
The Tunisian Football Federation (FTF) confirmed the decision on Sunday, less than 24 hours after Tunisia were eliminated by Mali in the Round of 16. The match ended 1–1 after extra time, with Mali ultimately prevailing in a dramatic penalty shootout.
In a statement, the federation said the decision was made by mutual agreement with Trabelsi and his technical staff, citing the team’s failure to progress 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 quoted FTF as saying.
The decision comes amid mounting frustration from fans and pundits, who had expected Tunisia to mount a serious challenge in Morocco. The Carthage Eagles began the tournament on a high note, opening with a convincing 3–1 victory over Uganda, briefly reigniting hopes of a deep run.
However, inconsistency soon emerged. A 3–2 loss to Nigeria exposed defensive weaknesses, and a 1–1 draw against Tanzania in their final group match further raised questions about the team’s balance and resilience.
Those concerns were magnified in the knockout stage. Against Mali, Tunisia took the lead and looked set to dominate after their opponents were reduced to ten men early in the match. Yet they failed to capitalise on the advantage, allowing Mali to equalise and eventually secure victory on penalties.
The Round of 16 exit proved decisive for Trabelsi, whose side struggled to maintain control and consistency throughout the tournament.
Tunisia’s early departure adds to a series of sobering moments for a nation that once reached the pinnacle of African football, lifting the AFCON trophy at home in 2004. With the search for sustained continental success ongoing, the federation now faces fresh questions over the direction of the national team and who will lead its next rebuilding phase.
