Tunisia have dismissed coach Sami Trabelsi following AFCON Round of 16 exit to Mali, ending a turbulent campaign marked by inconsistency

Tunisia have terminated the contract of head coach Sami Trabelsi following the Carthage Eagles’ elimination from the 2025 TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

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The Tunisian Football Federation (FTF) confirmed the decision on Sunday, less than 24 hours after Tunisia were ousted by Mali in the Round of 16.

The knockout match ended 1–1 after extra time, with Mali prevailing in a dramatic penalty shootout.

In a brief statement, the federation cited the team’s inability to progress further in the tournament as the reason for the decision, describing the termination as a mutual agreement with Trabelsi and his technical staff.

“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.

Tunisia’s campaign had started positively with a 3–1 victory over Uganda, raising hopes of a deep tournament run. However, inconsistency soon emerged.

A 3–2 defeat to Nigeria exposed defensive weaknesses, while a 1–1 draw against Tanzania in the final group match heightened doubts about the squad’s balance and resilience.

The knockout match against Mali further underscored those issues.

Despite taking the lead and playing against ten men, Tunisia failed to capitalise, allowing Mali to equalise and ultimately win on penalties.

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The exit marks another setback for a nation that once lifted the AFCON trophy on home soil in 2004, leaving the federation to confront questions over the future direction of the national team and the appointment of a new head coach.