Tunisia turn to Moine Chaabani after Hervé Renard talks collapse

The Tunisian Football Federation is reportedly close to appointing Moine Chaabani as the new head coach of the national team after negotiations with French manager Hervé Renard failed.

The decision would signal a return to local coaching leadership for the Eagles of Carthage following recent experiences with foreign managers, including Sabri Lamouchi, as Tunisia continue preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup period.

Chaabani Emerges as Leading Candidate

According to reports from Al-Sharq Sports, the federation is expected to finalise Chaabani’s appointment in the coming hours.

The Tunisian coach is currently in charge of Moroccan side Renaissance Berkane, where he has enjoyed another strong campaign despite the club falling out of the title race after a 2-1 defeat to Fath Rabat on Sunday.

Renaissance Berkane remain third in the Moroccan league standings with two matches left to play this season.

Boujelbane Linked With Assistant Role

The report also claims that Tunisia Under-20 coach Anis Boujelbane is the leading candidate to become assistant coach within the new technical staff.

Boujelbane recently decided against a potential move to Egyptian giants Al Ahly, choosing instead to remain involved in Tunisian football.

His possible arrival alongside Chaabani would further strengthen the federation’s move toward a more locally rooted technical project.

Chaabani’s Strong African Record

Chaabani arrives with one of the strongest coaching résumés in African football over recent years.

He guided Esperance of Tunisia to back-to-back CAF Champions League titles in 2018 and 2019, establishing himself as one of the continent’s most respected young coaches.

The Tunisian tactician also enjoyed major success with Renaissance Berkane, leading the Moroccan club to the Moroccan league title and the CAF Confederation Cup during the 2024-25 season.

Those achievements have reportedly convinced federation officials that Chaabani possesses the experience and mentality required to restore Tunisia’s competitiveness at both continental and international level.

Tunisia Looking for Stability Ahead of Future Challenges

The Tunisian Football Federation now appears focused on building stability around a coach familiar with the country’s football culture and expectations.

After unsuccessful negotiations with Renard, attention quickly shifted toward a candidate viewed as capable of combining tactical discipline with strong knowledge of African football.

If confirmed, Chaabani’s appointment would represent one of the most significant coaching changes in North African football ahead of the next major international competitions.