Tunisia’s national team has parted ways with head coach Sami Trabelsi a day after their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) last-16 defeat to Mali.
The 2004 champions had the advantage of playing against 10 men for over 90 minutes in Casablanca after Mali’s Woyo Coulibaly was sent off early in the match. Tunisia took the lead in the 88th minute but conceded a last-minute penalty in added time and ultimately lost in the ensuing shootout.
The Tunisian Football Federation announced the decision on social media, stating that it had “decided to terminate the contractual relationship by mutual consent” with the national team technical staff.
Trabelsi, 57, returned in February to manage the Carthage Eagles for a second spell, having resigned in 2013 after Tunisia were eliminated in the AFCON group stage.
At the 2025 AFCON in Morocco, Tunisia finished second in Group C, opening with a 3-1 win over Uganda, followed by a 3-2 loss to Nigeria and a 1-1 draw with Tanzania.
Reflecting on the defeat to Mali, Trabelsi admitted the disappointment, saying it caused “great disappointment and pain” and acknowledging that he bore responsibility as the team’s coach.
