Despite being quarter-finalists in the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN), Tunisia faced a challenging group in the CAN 2013, often referred to as the “group of death,” and was unable to progress further. The Carthage Eagles were eliminated by the Togo Sparrowhawks in a crucial match for the second qualifying ticket from their group.
According to Mokthar Tlili, a Tunisian football coach and consultant for Souiâa CAN, the national team’s elimination was not solely a result of their performance in the South African campaign but had roots in pre-existing issues. Tlili expressed his view that Tunisia’s elimination occurred before the start of the tournament, stating, “We left the CAN before starting it.”
He argued that mistakes within the team had not been adequately addressed since 2006, and despite promises of reconsideration and rebuilding after each elimination, little had been done to rectify the situation. Tlili suggested that the logical and expected result was a reflection of a lack of proactive measures. Furthermore, he pointed out that placing blame solely on the coach was unfair, emphasizing that everyone involved shared responsibility for the team’s predicament.
