Tunisia Sack Coach Sabri Lamouchi After Shock FIFA World Cup Start

Last Updated:June 15, 2026, 19:10 IST

Sabri Lamouchi is sacked as Tunisia head coach after a 5-1 World Cup defeat to Sweden, with the FA eyeing Wahbi Khazri.

Former French footballer Sabri Lamouchi was on Monday sacked by the Tunisia football team as their head coach after their 1-5 defeat to Sweden on Sunday, June 14, at the FIFA World Cup.

According to several reports, including from The Guardian and New York Times journalist Romain Molina, Lamouchi was dismissed after the Tunisian FA held an emergency meeting after the 5-1 loss to Sweden.

The heavy defeat marked the latest in a string of disappointing results, which also included a 5-0 hammering by Belgium in Tunisia’s final pre-tournament friendly.

Reports about Lamouchi’s potential successor have thrown up multiple names, including former Sunderland winger Wahbi Khazri and Mondher Kebaier, who led Tunisia at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Tunisia’s next World Cup game is scheduled for Saturday, June 20, against Japan.

Lamouchi, 54, was appointed by the Tunisian FA after the dismissal of Sami Trabelsi after Tunisia’s round-of-16 exit at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Lamouchi was in charge for just five matches and began his reign with a 1-0 victory over Haiti, but saw his team score just one goal afterwards as Canada held Tunisia to a 0-0 draw and Austria, Belgium and Sweden all defeated the Eagles of Carthage.

Graham Potter’s team made a fast start in Guadeloupe, going ahead in the seventh minute when Brighton midfielder Yasin Ayari unleashed a thunderous strike from outside the box, capitalising on a defensive mix-up.

The celebrations of Ayari, who is of Moroccan and Tunisian descent, were muted despite his fine finish.

Sweden doubled their lead on half an hour after a rapid break freed Alexander Isak on the left.

The Liverpool forward surged into space, cut inside and fired off a shot that goalkeeper Mouhib Chamakh managed to get a hand to, but still couldn’t keep out.

Tunisia didn’t concede a single goal in qualifying, becoming the first team to achieve that feat, matched by Ivory Coast and England.

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