Hannibal Mejbri sends positive message after Tunisia defeat to Austria

Hannibal Mejbri has delivered a message of encouragement to Tunisia supporters following the national team’s 1 0 defeat to Austria in a World Cup preparation match in Vienna.

The Tunisian midfielder sought to focus on the positives after Monday’s friendly, which formed part of both nations’ build up to the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Tunisia were beaten by a single goal scored by Marcel Sabitzer, whose strike in the second half proved enough to separate the two teams. The result came despite Austria being reduced to 10 men before half time following the dismissal of Konrad Laimer in the 37th minute.

The sending off appeared to give Tunisia an opportunity to take control of the contest, but Sabri Lamouchi’s side were unable to capitalise on their numerical advantage.

Although they continued to push forward and search for a response, they could not find a way past a disciplined Austrian defence.

Following the match, Mejbri chose to highlight the encouraging aspects of the performance rather than dwell on the defeat. The attacking midfielder also took time to thank supporters who travelled to Vienna and those who continued to back the team from afar.

In a message published on his official Instagram account, Mejbri expressed his appreciation for the support shown to the national team and stressed the importance of maintaining focus as preparations continue.

The Tunisian midfielder wrote:

“Thank you so much for your love and support tonight in Austria. There are many positives to take away from this match. Now it’s time to stay focused and work even harder.”

His comments reflected a determination within the squad to learn from the experience and continue improving ahead of the tournament.

Tunisia will now shift their attention to another important test as they continue their World Cup preparations. Sabri Lamouchi’s side are scheduled to face Belgium in their next friendly match.

The encounter will take place next Saturday at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels, with kick off set for 1:00 PM GMT, offering Tunisia another opportunity to assess their progress before the start of the global tournament.