Tunisia cancel Mali friendly amid Achouri row and squad crisis

Tunisia have cancelled their planned friendly against Mali after a troubled international break was compounded by a reported dispute between Elias Achouri and head coach Mouine Chaabani.

The Tunisian Football Federation (FTF) confirmed the decision after discussions with Chaabani’s staff and the Malian federation. However, Reuters reported that the team’s long list of absentees was not the only factor considered, with concerns over another defeat and a further slide in the FIFA rankings also influencing the decision.

The cancellation followed a difficult start to Tunisia’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign. The Carthage Eagles drew 1-1 at home with Uganda before being held 2-2 by Botswana, leaving Chaabani without a win in his first two matches in charge.

Achouri was reportedly at the centre of tensions after the Botswana match. Several Tunisian media outlets said the San Diego player, who had started on the bench before coming on, had a particularly heated exchange with Chaabani after the final whistle.

The winger subsequently left the squad and was reportedly excluded by the coaching staff. He also stopped following the Tunisian Football Federation on Instagram.

His departure added to an already serious absence list ahead of Saturday’s fixture at Rades. Ghram, Kadida, Nasraoui and Ben Hassen were unavailable because of injuries, while Neffati and Laidouni were ill. Gharbi had been given permission to return to his club after the official matches.

With Achouri also leaving, Tunisia were without eight players before the proposed meeting with Mali. Tunisian media have also reported a tense atmosphere between Chaabani and sections of his dressing room.

The situation has drawn comparisons, albeit on a different scale, with events in Portugal. A few hours earlier, Cristiano Ronaldo had also left his national-team camp in controversial circumstances after a disagreement with Jorge Jesus.

Ronaldo had remained on the bench against Norway and announced his departure on Wednesday, following a news conference held by his manager. He said he would later reveal “the truth” about the reasons behind his decision.

For Tunisia, the combination of player absences, disappointing results and internal tensions left the federation unwilling to take the risk of another match. The decision represents another setback for Tunisian football, which has already faced a difficult period in recent months.

It also adds weight to concerns expressed by Hannibal Mejbri about the state of the national team after the most recent Africa Cup of Nations.