Tunisia sack coach Sabri Lamouchi after Sweden humiliation

Tunisia’s 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign has been thrown into turmoil after head coach Sabri Lamouchi was dismissed following a humiliating 5-1 defeat to Sweden in their opening Group H match.

The Carthage Eagles still have two group matches remaining in the tournament.

Tunisia entered the World Cup already struggling for confidence following a 5-0 loss to Belgium in a pre-tournament friendly.

The back-to-back defeats have seen the North African side concede 10 goals in their last two matches, raising concerns about the team’s defensive organization and overall competitiveness.

Against Sweden, the Franco-Tunisian boys were overwhelmed by a clinical opponent that capitalized on numerous defensive mistakes.

Adding to the frustration was the performance of Swedish midfielder Yasin Ayari, who scored twice against the country of his heritage.

Tunisia never recovered from the early setbacks and suffered one of the heaviest defeats in their recent international history.

The result has reportedly prompted members of the Tunisian Football Federation’s executive committee to call for an emergency meeting to assess the situation.

Speculation is growing that former captain Wahbi Khazri has emerged as a potential interim replacement.

Khazri, who recently joined the national team’s technical staff after retiring from professional football, is highly respected within Tunisian football and could be asked to guide the team through the remainder of the World Cup.

However, handing Khazri responsibility at such a critical stage would represent a significant gamble, given his lack of previous managerial experience at the highest level.

Another name reportedly under consideration is former Tunisia head coach Mondher Kebaier.

Having previously managed the national team, Kebaier is familiar with the players, federation structure and expectations surrounding Tunisian football, making him a viable candidate should a coaching change be made.

Lamouchi, a former Ivory Coast national team coach, was appointed with hopes of restoring Tunisia’s competitiveness on the international stage.

Instead, the team's recent performances have sparked growing criticism and placed his future in serious doubt.

With two crucial group matches still to play, Tunisia’s federation now faces a difficult decision that could shape the remainder of the country’s World Cup campaign.

The Carthage Eagles urgently need a response to keep their hopes alive on football’s biggest stage.