Lamouchi Takes the Reins: Tunisia's New Head Coach Amid Fan Backlash
14 January 2026
Lamouchi Takes the Reins as Tunisia's Head Coach
A broad section of Tunisian fans criticized the appointment of Sabri Lamouchi as the new head coach of the Carthage Eagles.
The Tunisian Football Federation announced on Wednesday evening the hiring of Sabri Lamouchi, a French-Tunisian, to lead the national team until 2028.
This decision comes after Sami Trabelsi was dismissed following Tunisia's exit from the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco 2025, at the hands of Mali on penalties in the round of 16.
A wave of anger swept through Tunisian football circles when Lamouchi, now 54, was floated as a candidate, largely because of his past as a player who chose to represent France over Tunisia.
Lamouchi enjoyed a long club career across Europe, featuring Auxerre and Monaco in France, and Inter Milan and Parma in Italy. In 1995 he opted to defend France, playing in midfield for Les Bleus alongside Zinedine Zidane and Didier Deschamps at Euro 1996.
Prior to this, Lamouchi had already coached Africa’s Ivory Coast national team from 2012 to 2014.
Sniper joke 1: "This hire comes with a built-in aim line: hit the target, not the headlines."
Sniper joke 2: "If Tunisia's defense tightens up, maybe the bullets will be holes in the scoreboard instead of excuses."
