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🇹🇳 Tunisia /Sports

Tunisia sacks coach Lamouchi after World Cup qualifying defeat

From La Presse · () French

Translated from French, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Outcome reported
  • Tunisia's football federation fired national team coach Sabri Lamouchi following a 5-1 World Cup qualifying loss to Sweden.
  • The decision was unanimous, with federation officials citing a period of regression in results and performance, including a 5-0 loss to Belgium.
  • Mondher Kebaïer is the leading candidate to take over as interim coach, with former player Wahbi Khazri ruled out due to lacking the required coaching diploma.

Tunisia's football federation has dismissed national team coach Sabri Lamouchi after a heavy 5-1 defeat against Sweden in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. The decision, made unanimously by federation officials shortly after the match, signals a critical juncture for the "Carthage Eagles" as they face a period of perceived regression.

The decision was taken unanimously in the hours following the match.

— Sources close to the dossierRegarding the federation's decision to dismiss the coach.

Sources close to the federation indicate that concerns extend beyond mere results, encompassing team management, discipline, and the overall atmosphere within the locker room. This internal assessment suggests a gradual loss of control over the squad and a lack of technical stability that has hampered the team's performance in recent months. Lamouchi's position was already under scrutiny before the tournament, but the federation had granted him a final chance during the World Cup, a chance that was ultimately cut short by the decisive loss.

The federation officials believe that the selection is going through a period of clear regression, both in terms of results and performance.

— Federation officialsExplaining the rationale behind the coach's dismissal.

Looking ahead, Mondher Kebaïer, currently serving as the federation's technical director, has emerged as the most likely candidate to assume interim coaching duties until the end of the competition. While the federation considered former international Wahbi Khazri for the role, his lack of a required coaching diploma disqualified him. The Olympic team coach, Anis Boujelbène, is also being considered, but administrative hurdles related to travel may complicate his immediate appointment.

The difficulties of the selection go beyond just sporting results and also concern the management of the group, discipline, and the atmosphere within the locker room.

— Some officialsElaborating on the reasons for the coach's firing.

This coaching change comes at a critical moment for Tunisia, who are now in a difficult position in their group. With upcoming matches against Japan and the Netherlands, the team desperately needs a turnaround to keep their World Cup hopes alive. The urgency to revitalize the squad and salvage their tournament campaign is palpable.

Mondher Kebaïer is the name that is insistently returning.

— SourcesDiscussing potential successors for the coaching position.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by La Presse in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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