Tunisia's football team: immense task and trust to rebuild

Tunisia's football federation has officially appointed Mouine Chaâbani as the new national team coach, marking a new era after the team's World Cup campaign. The federation, as widely anticipated, has remained largely silent on the recent events, choosing to move forward rather than dwell on past criticisms.

The article suggests that while new faces have been brought in for new responsibilities, these changes may not significantly impact the development of football in the country. The national team calendar continues to move forward, and Chaâbani is expected to announce his first squad soon. Fans are already anticipating the selection, with loyalties often tied to club affiliations.

Chaâbani faces the challenge of convincing skeptics and rebuilding trust. He has been given a long-term commitment, a rarity for a national coach. His background as a successful youth team trainer, demonstrated during his tenure with a Moroccan club, is seen as an advantage. However, the article points out that crucial areas like youth development infrastructure and training centers are not within his purview.

These responsibilities fall under the National Technical Directorate, about which the article expresses concern, noting a lack of visible activity or meetings with club youth staff as the championship approaches. The author questions whether youth categories will continue to stagnate. The same concerns extend to the national team setup, where communication with club coaches about player readiness is deemed essential, rather than placing the burden of conditioning on the national coach.