Former Tunisia coach Sami Trabelsi alleges federation official interfered in team affairs

Former Tunisia manager Sami Trabelsi has accused a senior official at the Tunisian Football Federation of exerting extraordinary influence over the national team, claiming the interference extended from player selection and tactical decisions to the organisation of prayer inside the camp.

Speaking to Tunisian radio station Mosaique FM on Saturday, Trabelsi said the official even determined which players stood in the front rows during prayers. He said the repeated interventions contributed to Tunisia’s failure at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco and placed additional pressure on the coaching staff.

Trabelsi described the atmosphere before the tournament as increasingly tense after Tunisia were eliminated in the group stage of the Arab Cup, held in Qatar in November 2025.

He said the official’s involvement deepened the problems around the team to such an extent that he considered resigning and returning to Tunisia before the start of the Africa Cup of Nations.

According to Trabelsi, the interference went beyond offering opinions about football decisions and included attempts to impose certain players on the squad.

“There was someone who opposed the selection of Naim Sliti and wanted me to call up a player from the Tunisian league. All of this was done by an official in the Tunisian Football Federation. He was the one deciding everything,” Trabelsi said.

The former manager added that the same official became involved in other day-to-day matters during the national team’s training camps. He claimed the official specified when players were to receive treatment and even decided who would stand at the front during prayers.

Those remarks, he said, illustrated the extent of the official’s influence within the Carthage Eagles’ camp.

Despite his criticism, Trabelsi accepted that he also carried responsibility for Tunisia’s results during his time in charge. He acknowledged that the team had not produced the expected performances or achieved positive results, and apologised to Tunisian supporters for failing to meet the targets set during his tenure.

The Tunisian Football Federation dismissed Trabelsi after the team’s disappointing showing at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. Sabri Lamouchi was appointed as his successor but left after taking charge of only one official match at the 2026 World Cup, amid criticism of Tunisia’s performances and results.

Moez Ben Cherifia is now in charge of the Tunisia national team. His side have played two matches in qualifying for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, drawing with Uganda and Botswana.

The qualifying schedule lists Tunisia, Libya, Morocco and Niger for matches on 13 November 2026. Tunisia and Libya are identified in one fixture listing, while Morocco and Niger appear in another.