Sabri Lamouchi reveals details behind his departure from Tunisia

Former Tunisia coach reflects on difficult World Cup campaign and his dismissal

Former Tunisia head coach Sabri Lamouchi has spoken publicly for the first time since leaving his role, offering his account of the circumstances that surrounded the end of his spell with the national team.

In a lengthy interview reported by Footmercato, Lamouchi described the challenges he said the squad faced during the tournament and reflected on the events that preceded his departure from the Tunisia bench.

Tunisia endured a disappointing World Cup campaign, finishing fourth in their group without progressing to the round of 32.

The Eagles of Carthage also conceded 12 goals in three matches, while Lamouchi’s tenure ended shortly after the team’s 5-1 defeat to Sweden.

Lamouchi points to difficult circumstances

The former coach said a series of logistical problems affected preparations during the tournament and contributed to growing frustration within the squad.

Explaining his version of events, Lamouchi said:

“The day after the match against Austria, we were supposed to go to Brussels, but an air traffic controllers’ strike canceled our flight. We no longer had a hotel, so we took the first one available. The medical equipment had been sent by bus, the players couldn’t receive treatment, and they were wandering the streets of Vienna because the hotel was too small. Frustration then mounted among the players, who asked to speak with the president and vice-president. I wasn’t present at that meeting, but very clearly, at that moment, it was a bit of a turning point.”

According to Lamouchi, those events marked a significant moment in the team’s campaign and changed the atmosphere around the squad.

Final hours in charge

The former Tunisia coach also described how he learned that his time with the national team was coming to an end.

Recalling the day of his dismissal, he said:

“I went to bed late, woke up very early, and saw 27 missed calls from my wife, my children, and friends. Apparently, there had been a message that was published and then deleted. To my complete surprise, the staff came knocking on my door; it was the beginning of the end. (…) I went to training, and some players came to see me and said, ‘We started together, we’ll finish together.’ I came to serve my country, to contribute my experience, my knowledge, to do my best. I didn’t succeed, there’s no question about it. But what coach is going to succeed in such a short time in this way?”

Lamouchi acknowledged that the campaign had fallen short of expectations but questioned whether any coach could have succeeded under the circumstances he described.

He also expressed disappointment with the manner in which his departure was handled.

“I’m angry with people because they didn’t say goodbye to me. We went back to the hotel, and two hours later, the president and vice-president told me we had to stop. The story ends there, but they had informed the players 15 minutes earlier about the arrival of my successor, who was already on the plane. I thought to myself, ‘Damn, they didn’t waste any time, that was fast.’ Then you start to get a bit paranoid, thinking that maybe after Belgium, I might not even have played in the World Cup. I didn’t feel much support from the federation from the start.”

The interview offers Lamouchi’s perspective on the final days of his tenure, including the challenges he believes affected the team and the circumstances surrounding his dismissal.

His comments provide insight into a difficult period for Tunisia, as he reflected on a campaign that ended earlier than expected and a coaching spell that concluded amid significant controversy.