Sami Trabelsi has been reappointed as the head coach of the Tunisian national team, 12 years after his first stint in the role.
The Tunisian Football Federation (FTF) announced the decision on Monday, following the dismissal of Faouzi Benzarti in October 2024.
Trabelsi, 57, previously managed the Carthage Eagles from 2011 to 2013, during which he led the team to victory in the 2011 African Nations Championship (CHAN) and secured qualifications for the 2012 and 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Trabelsi’s return comes at a pivotal moment for Tunisian football. The team currently leads Group H in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers and is preparing for the 2025 AFCON in Morocco.
“The executive committee, in its session on 10 February 2025, decided to appoint Sami Trabelsi as the national team coach,” the FTF stated.
The new coaching staff includes Hamadi Daou as assistant coach, Aymen Jedidi and Wassim Maala overseeing development and physical preparation, Hichem Jaziri as goalkeeping coach, and Helmi Kachou and Walid Ben Tamansour handling technical analysis.
Trabelsi’s first task will be to guide Tunisia in their March World Cup qualifiers against Liberia and Malawi.
After leaving the national team in 2013, he spent a decade managing Qatari club Al-Sailiya, where he won several domestic titles.
His return is seen as an opportunity to build on Tunisia’s recent successes and secure a sixth consecutive World Cup qualification.
“I am honored to be given this responsibility again,” Trabelsi said. “Tunisia has a talented squad, and my job is to ensure we achieve our goals in the World Cup qualifiers and AFCON 2025.”
The Carthage Eagles currently top Group H with 10 points from three wins and a draw. Their next major challenge is AFCON 2025, where they aim to win their second continental title, having last triumphed in 2004.
