Tunisia seals a golden finish to World Cup 2026 qualifiers with Namibia victory

Overview

Tunisia closed their African qualifying campaign for the 2026 World Cup with a commanding 3-0 victory over Namibia in Group 8, sealing top spot and a historic run.

The goals came from Ali Abdi in the 28th minute from a penalty, Hannibal Mejbri hitting a superb free-kick from outside the box in the 55th, and Ferjani Sassi adding a third in the 64th after a cross.

With this win, Tunisia moves to 28 points, leading the group and extending a remarkable defensive streak of ten straight clean sheets in the qualifiers.

The starting XI included goalkeeper Aymen Dahmen; the backline featured Ali Abdi, Yassine Meriah and Montassar Talbi; the midfield trio consisted of Ferjani Sassi, Ellyes Skhiri and Ismail El-Gharbi; while the forward line boasted Ilyes Saadi, Naïm Sliti and Firas Shwat.

The match also marked Hannibal Mejbri’s first international goal for Tunisia, his 55th-minute strike capping a historic moment for a player who chose to represent Tunisia over France. Mejbri’s decision to play for the Lions of Carthage was widely discussed in 2022.

As a result, Tunisia finished the campaign undefeated in 10 qualifiers, scored 22 goals in 10 matches and claimed 28 points—the highest tally among African teams under the current group format. The side has established itself as a model of tactical discipline and efficient attacking play.

Coach Sami Trabelsi, appointed in February, becomes the first Tunisian to reach World Cup finals as both player and coach. The team now shifts focus to late 2025’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

In short: Tunisia’s golden finish cements a memorable milestone, sending them toward the 2026 finals for the seventh time.

Punchline 1: When your defense is that airtight, even the jokes stay offside. Punchline 2: If dominance were a ball, Tunisia would be goalkeeper and captain together, saving history one clean sheet at a time.