Tunisia Sack Coach Trabelsi After Heartbreaking Afcon Penalty Shootout Collapse Against Mali

Sami Trabelsi has been fired as Tunisia coach just 24 hours after his side suffered one of the most agonizing exits in Africa Cup of Nations history—squandering a late lead and losing a penalty shootout to 10-man Mali in Casablanca.

The Tunisian Football Federation pulled the trigger swiftly, announcing it had "decided to terminate the contractual relationship by mutual consent" with Trabelsi and his technical staff following the devastating last-16 defeat that left a nation in shock.

The manner of Tunisia's elimination made it even more painful. The 2004 champions dominated for more than 90 minutes against a Mali side reduced to 10 men after Woyo Coulibaly's early red card, yet somehow couldn't close out the victory.

Tunisia appeared to have sealed their quarter-final place when they finally broke through in the 88th minute, scoring what seemed like a match-winning goal against their numerically disadvantaged opponents.

But football can be cruel.

Mali refused to surrender. Deep into the sixth minute of added time, the Eagles of Mali won a penalty that sent the match spiraling into extra time and eventually a shootout—where Tunisia's composure completely deserted them.

The Carthage Eagles, who had dominated possession and created chances against 10 men for the vast majority of the contest, somehow managed to lose the penalty shootout after initially taking the lead from the spot.

It was a collapse of epic proportions that will haunt Tunisian football for years.

The 57-year-old Trabelsi had returned for his second spell in charge of Tunisia in February last year, having previously resigned in 2013 after the team crashed out in the Afcon group stage during his first tenure.

This time, he guided Tunisia through World Cup qualification—they're heading to the 2026 World Cup—but couldn't replicate that success at Afcon 2025.

Tunisia finished second in Group C in Morocco, delivering mixed performances throughout the group stage. They opened with a convincing 3-1 victory over Uganda, showing promise and attacking intent.

However, inconsistency crept in. They suffered a narrow 3-2 defeat to Nigeria before salvaging a 1-1 draw with Tanzania to secure their place in the knockout rounds.

Still, advancing to face Mali with numerical advantage for most of the match should have been Tunisia's moment to shine. Instead, it became a nightmare scenario.

In the immediate aftermath of the elimination, Trabelsi acknowledged the devastating nature of the defeat and accepted accountability.

He described their exit as causing "great disappointment and pain" and admitted it was "certain" he bore responsibility for the result as coach—words that now seem prophetic given the federation's swift decision to part ways.

The federation clearly felt immediate change was necessary, unwilling to allow the wound from this defeat to fester or give Trabelsi time to recover from what many consider one of Tunisia's most embarrassing Afcon exits.

For Tunisian football fans, this elimination ranks among the most painful in recent memory. Losing to 10 men after leading late in the match defies logic and basic football mathematics.

Tunisia had every advantage: an extra player for over 90 minutes, home continent advantage playing in North Africa, and momentum after scoring late. Yet they found a way to lose.

The penalty shootout collapse added insult to injury, demonstrating a complete mental breakdown when the team needed composure most.

Trabelsi's two spells in charge of Tunisia will be remembered for different reasons. His first stint ended in group stage humiliation in 2013. His second tenure delivered World Cup qualification—a significant achievement—but ended with an Afcon disaster that overshadowed that success.

The fact that Tunisia have qualified for the 2026 World Cup makes the decision to sack Trabelsi now particularly significant. The federation is essentially saying that the Afcon failure was unacceptable regardless of World Cup qualification success.

It sends a clear message: Tunisia expects success on the continental stage, and falling short—especially in such catastrophic fashion—carries consequences.

Tunisia's early exit continues a disappointing trend for North African football at Afcon 2025. The region's traditional powerhouses have struggled to assert dominance, with teams from other regions showing impressive form.

For Ghana's Black Stars and their fans, Tunisia's collapse serves as a cautionary tale. Qualifying for major tournaments is one thing; performing when it matters most is entirely different. Mental strength and game management separate good teams from great ones.

The contrast with Nigeria's dominant form at this tournament couldn't be starker. While the Super Eagles are cruising through opponents, Tunisia—another of Africa's historical powers—has crashed out in humiliating fashion.

The Tunisian Football Federation now faces the urgent task of appointing a new coach with the 2026 World Cup on the horizon. The new manager will inherit a squad that has proven it can qualify for major tournaments but clearly needs work on mental resilience and closing out matches.

Potential candidates will be carefully evaluated. Tunisia needs a coach who can not only maintain their World Cup qualification momentum but also restore pride and confidence after this devastating Afcon exit.

The new appointment will need to address the psychological fragility that allowed a team to collapse so spectacularly when victory was within grasp. That's not a tactical problem—it's a mental one, and it runs deeper than formation or player selection.

Tunisia's exit offers several painful lessons that resonate across African football:

Numerical advantage doesn't guarantee victory. Playing against 10 men for over 90 minutes should be decisive, but without the mentality to capitalize, numbers mean nothing.

Late leads are meaningless without game management. Scoring in the 88th minute means nothing if you concede in the 94th. Closing out matches is a skill that separates contenders from pretenders.

Mental strength matters as much as talent. Tunisia had the quality to beat Mali. What they lacked was the composure to finish the job when pressure mounted.

For Trabelsi, this represents a bitter end to what could have been a redemption story. Returning to guide Tunisia to World Cup qualification should have cemented his legacy. Instead, he'll be remembered for one of the most painful defeats in Carthage Eagles history.

For Tunisian football, the challenge now is rebuilding confidence and trust. Fans who watched their team dominate for 90+ minutes against 10 men only to lose will need convincing that this squad can compete when it truly matters.

The 2026 World Cup offers a chance at redemption, but first, Tunisia must find a coach capable of healing these deep wounds and preventing such collapses from ever happening again.

Sometimes in football, the scoreline doesn't tell the full story. Tunisia's penalty shootout loss to 10-man Mali will be remembered not for the final score, but for how it happened—and for the promising coaching tenure it abruptly ended.