Africa Nations 2025: Sami Trabelsi leaves Tunisia after defeat by Mali

The Tunisian national team sacked its coach, Sami Trabelsi, one day after qualifying for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. Defeat in the round of 16 against Mali on penalties.

The 2004 champion played with an extra man for more than 90 minutes in Casablanca and took the lead in the 88th minute, but conceded a penalty kick in the sixth minute of stoppage time and squandered the lead in the penalty shootout.

The Tunisian Football Federation said in a statement on social media that it “decided to terminate the contractual relationship by mutual consent” with the technical staff of the national team.

Trabelsi (57 years old) took over as coach of the Carthage Eagles last February for the second time after his resignation after almost two years in 2013, after Tunisia’s exit from the group stage of the African Cup of Nations.

The North African team ranked second in Group C in Morocco, beating Uganda 3-1 in the opening match, before losing 3-2 to Nigeria and drawing 1-1 with Tanzania.

Trabelsi said that his country’s exit from Mali caused “great disappointment and pain” and that he “certainly” bears responsibility for the result as a coach.