Trabelsi outlines Tunisia’s dual objective ahead of key tournaments

Tunisia national team head coach Sami Trabelsi has outlined that the objective of his squad is to win the upcoming FIFA Arab Cup and reach the later stages of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

The Carthage Eagles last won a major trophy in 2004 on home soil, and they also claimed the African Nations Championship (CHAN) in 2011. Trabelsi, who was appointed in February 2025, stated that their main objective is to win trophies. “The objective is twofold. We want to win the FIFA Arab Cup title and perform well in AFCON.”

Tunisia were runners-up at the 2021 FIFA Arab Cup, and they will be hoping for a positive result when the tournament kicks off in Qatar. Trabelsi said his squad is a mix of local and international players as they prepare to play three international friendlies in June.

Tunisia are in Group C of the Africa Cup of Nations that will take place beginning in late December alongside 2023 finalists Nigeria as well as East African duo Uganda and Tanzania. They are in Group A of the FIFA Arab Cup, drawn against hosts Qatar and the winners of qualifying duels between Syria and South Sudan and also Palestine and Libya. The finals of the Arab Cup kick off at the beginning of December.

The head coach also confirmed that the likes of Elyes Skhiri and Naim Sliti are currently missing from team training due to injury.