Tunisia’s national team will be eyeing a perfect start tonight when they face the Uganda Cranes, with the side keen to remind Africa of their long-standing pedigree on the continental stage.
Nicknamed the Carthage Eagles, Tunisia remain one of Africa’s most consistent football nations. They are still chasing a second Africa Cup of Nations title, having lifted their only crown in 2004 on home soil.
This year’s tournament in Morocco marks their 22nd AFCON appearance in just 35 editions, a statistic that underlines their sustained presence among the continent’s elite.
True to tradition, Tunisia arrive at the finals leaning heavily on experience and a reputation for performing well at major tournaments.
Their route to Morocco saw them finish second in Group A of the qualifiers with 10 points, narrowly behind group winners Comoros who collected 12. Gambia and Madagascar completed the group.
The team is now under the stewardship of Sami Trabelsi, who was appointed in February following the dismissal of Faouzi Benzarti in October 2024.
At 57, Trabelsi is a familiar figure on the Tunisian bench. He previously held the role between 2011 and 2013, guiding the country to victory at the 2011 African Nations Championship in Sudan and securing qualification for the 2012 and 2013 AFCON tournaments.
Beyond coaching credentials, Trabelsi is a national icon. He earned his stripes as a player between 1991 and 2001, and his return comes with a clear mandate: to erase the bitter memories of the 2023 AFCON, where Tunisia suffered a shock group-stage exit after finishing bottom of Group E alongside Mali, South Africa and Namibia.
As part of his rebuild, Trabelsi has turned to trusted midfield figures, recalling Eintracht Frankfurt’s Ellyes Skhiri and former Manchester United midfielder Hannibal Mejbri, who now plays his club football at Burnley. Their presence is expected to bring balance, control and leadership to the heart of the team.
In attack, Tunisia boast a wide range of options. Elias Saad of Augsburg, Elias Achouri from FC Copenhagen, Hazem Mastouri of Dinamo Makhachkala, Sébastien Tounekti of Celtic, Club Africain’s Firas Chaouat and Zamalek striker Seifeddine Jaziri provide depth, versatility and goal threat across the frontline.
Tunisia also carry a remarkable record into this tournament. They are the only nation to have featured in every AFCON finals over the past three decades, having not missed a single edition since 1994.
Currently ranked 52nd in the FIFA World Rankings, Tunisia will fancy their chances in a competitive group that also includes Nigeria and Tanzania.
Tunisia’s AFCON record:
| Year | Host | Position/Level |
|---|---|---|
| 1962 | Ethiopia | Third place |
| 1963 | Ghana | Group stage (5th) |
| 1965 | Tunisia | Runners-up |
| 1968 / 1970 / 1972 / 1974 / 1976 | — | Did not qualify / enter |
| 1978 | Ghana | Fourth place |
| 1980 | Nigeria | Banned |
| 1982 | Libya | Group stage |
| 1984 / 1986 / 1988 / 1990 / 1992 | — | Did not qualify |
| 1994 | Tunisia | Group stage |
| 1996 | South Africa | Runners-up |
| 1998 | Burkina Faso | Quarter-finals |
| 2000 | Ghana/Nigeria | Fourth place |
| 2002 | Mali | Group stage |
| 2004 | Tunisia | Champions |
| 2006 | Egypt | Quarter-finals |
| 2008 | Ghana | Quarter-finals |
| 2010 | Angola | Group stage |
| 2012 | Gabon/Equatorial Guinea | Quarter-finals |
| 2013 | South Africa | Group stage |
| 2015 | Equatorial Guinea | Quarter-finals |
| 2017 | Gabon | Quarter-finals |
| 2019 | Egypt | Fourth place |
| 2021 | Cameroon | Quarter-finals |
| 2023 | Côte d’Ivoire | Group stage |
| 2025 | Host TBD | Group stage (TBD) |
AFCON 2025 Tunisia squad
- Goalkeepers: Aymen Dahmen (CS Sfaxien), Bechir Ben Said (ES Tunis), Noureddine Farhati (Stade Tunisien), Sabri Ben Hassen (ES Sahel)
- Defenders: Yassine Meriah (ES Tunis), Montassar Talbi (Lorient), Dylan Bronn (Servette), Adem Arous (Kasimpasa), Nader Ghandri (Akhmat Grozny), Mohamed Ben Ali (ES Tunis), Yan Valery (Sheffield Wednesday), Ali Abdi (Nice), Mortadha Ben Ouanes (Kasimpasa), Ali Maaloul (CS Sfaxien)
- Midfielders: Ellyes Skhiri (Eintracht Frankfurt), Houssem Tka (ES Tunis), Ferjani Sassi (Al-Gharafa SC), Ismael Gharbi (FC Augsburg), Mohamed Belhadj Mahmoud (FC Lugano), Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane (Al Ahly FC), Hannibal Mejbri (Burnley)
- Forwards: Elias Saad (FC Augsburg), Elias Achouri (FC Copenhagen), Sebastian Tounekti (Celtic), Firas Chaouat (Club Africain), Hazem Mastouri (Dinamo Makhachkala), Seifeddine Jaziri (Zamalek SC), Naim Sliti (Al-Shamal SC)