The Tunisian Football Federation has appointed Sabri Lamouchi as the new coach of the Tunisian national team, succeeding Sami Trabelsi, on a contract extending until July 2028.
The Tunisian Football Federation initially favored a foreign coach, but the Ministry of Sports rejected this idea and insisted on a Tunisian coach.
Sabri Lamouchi is of Tunisian descent, but as a player, he played exclusively in the French league and represented France in 12 international matches.
Ultimately, the federation decided to appoint the Tunisian-born Lamouchi to the position, particularly given his extensive experience in Arab and African football.
The 53-year-old coach previously managed the Ivory Coast national team from 2012 to 2014 and has also coached several Arab clubs, including Al-Jaish and Al-Duhail in Qatar, and Al-Riyadh and Al-Diriyah in Saudi Arabia.
At the European level, Lamouchi has coached French club Stade Rennais, English side Nottingham Forest, and Cardiff City. This will be his first experience with a national team since Ivory Coast in 2014.
Lamouchi’s appointment comes at a crucial time, as the Tunisian national team prepares for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, with the clear objective of leading the Carthage Eagles to at least the second round of the tournament.
It is worth noting that Tunisia was eliminated from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in the round of 16 after losing to Mali on penalties, which led to the immediate departure of Sami Trabelsi.
