Tunisia head coach Sami Trabelsi has admitted his side have not lived up to expectations at the Africa Cup of Nations, saying a “mental reset” is needed ahead of their last-16 clash with Mali on Saturday.
The Carthage Eagles, champions in 2004, opened their campaign in encouraging fashion with a 3-1 win over Uganda. But a 1-1 draw with Tanzania followed by a narrow 3-2 defeat to Nigeria exposed inconsistencies, leaving Tunisia qualified for the knockout stage but under scrutiny.
Speaking at a press conference ahead of their round of 16 game against Mali, Trabelsi was candid in his assessment.
“We are not satisfied with the overall performance and results of the Tunisian team in the tournament,” he said. “God willing, we will show our true face against Mali and achieve success.”
With the group stage now behind them, the coach believes the psychological shift into knockout football could prove decisive.
“I hope the result goes our way as a new phase of the competition begins,” he added. “The mental aspect is very important, and we’ve freed ourselves from pressure.”
Trabelsi expects a tight contest against a Mali side he described as technically gifted and physically strong, warning that chances will be at a premium.
“The match will be decided by small details and mistakes, and there won’t be many chances,” he said. “The most important thing is to take advantage of them. We’ll try to deliver a more consistent performance.”
He also acknowledged the frustration among supporters, while urging patience.
“I understand why people aren’t happy with our performance, but we weren’t that bad,” Trabelsi said. “We qualified for the round of 16, and gradually the performance will improve.
“Sometimes you play great matches and still exit the tournament. The most important thing is progressing, and we hope to succeed in both performance and qualification.”
Defender Yan Valery echoed his coach’s message, describing the knockout stage as a chance for renewal.
“We’re ready to deliver a good match against Mali,” Valery said. “This is a new tournament starting now. We’ll learn from our mistakes in the group stage, which will serve as a lesson for the Mali game.”
Valery also spoke of the atmosphere in Morocco, where Tunisia have enjoyed strong backing.
“We enjoy the support of Moroccan and Tunisian fans,” he added. “We feel the same pressure we face at club level and deal with it the same way, as we’ve done throughout our careers.”
As Tunisia prepare to face Mali, the message from within the camp is clear: the past has been parked, and the focus is firmly on rediscovering the form and belief needed to go further in the competition.
