Tunisia lost 2–0 to Libya at the Stade Taïeb Mhiri in Sfax on Friday evening in the third round of qualifying for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. The defeat complicates the Carthage Eagles’ bid to reach a tournament they have played in for more than three decades.
Ali Youssef opened the scoring for Libya from the penalty spot in the 44th minute, and Hamdou Elhouni added a second in the 62nd. It was Libya’s first win of the qualifying campaign and piled more pressure on Tunisia ahead of the return fixture.
Libya moved up to four points, while Tunisia remained on two after draws with Uganda and Botswana. Botswana also have two points ahead of Saturday’s match against Uganda. Tunisia, Libya and Botswana are competing for one qualifying spot in Group Eight, with Uganda already assured of a place at the finals as co-hosts.
The defeat puts Tunisia’s Guinness World Record at risk. The Carthage Eagles have played in 17 consecutive Africa Cup of Nations tournaments from 1994 to 2025, the longest run in the competition’s history. They last missed the finals in 1992, so failure to qualify for the 2027 edition would mark their first absence in 35 years.
Tunisia won their only continental title during that run, lifting the trophy on home soil in 2004. Their most recent campaign ended in the round of 16 in 2025, when they lost to Mali on penalties.
The qualifying setback follows Tunisia’s worst World Cup campaign. They lost 5–1 to Sweden, 4–0 to Japan and 3–1 to the Netherlands in 2026, finishing without a point for the first time in their history. The defeat to Japan made them the first African team to be eliminated from the tournament.
Tunisia have had three coaches in the past five months. Sabri Lamouchi was sacked after the defeat to Sweden, and Hervé Renard took interim charge for the two remaining World Cup matches. Moïne Chaâbani was appointed in July on a four-year deal and is still waiting for his first win after opening with two draws and a defeat to Libya.
The teams meet again at Tripoli International Stadium on Tuesday, 17 November, in a match that could shape Chaâbani’s future. A win would take Tunisia above Libya, while another defeat would leave them five points behind their neighbours with two rounds remaining in March 2027.
