The status of Tunisia’s head coach Sabri Lamouchi is unclear after a heavy loss in their opening World Cup finals game. Sweden thrashed Tunisia 5-1 in Sunday night’s Group F opener in Monterrey, Mexico.
The Tunisian Football Federation appeared to have announced his dismissal on their Instagram account. Written in Arabic, the statement was translated by Google. “An agreement has been officially reached to dismiss coach Sabri Lamouchi,” the statement read. “Plans are underway to appoint Mondher Kebaier as the national team coach (on an interim basis) to complete the World Cup qualifying matches.” Kebaier, 56, is already in Mexico and led the side between 2019 and 2022.
However, it was subsequently reported that the Tunisian Football Association were holding an emergency meeting, and that Lamouchi had taken training. “We have a problem with the coach,” a Tunisian Football Association official told ESPN.
Tunisia are scheduled to face Japan in the same stadium on Saturday night before finishing their group against the Netherlands. Lamouchi, 54, was hired in January and was already under fire following a 5-0 loss to Belgium in a pre-tournament friendly. He has overseen one victory in five games, a 1-0 win over Haiti.
Tunisian media have reported of a lack of harmony between the team’s experienced players and newcomers. The team’s Africa Cup of Nations campaign last winter ended with a disappointing defeat to Mali in the Round of 16.
The Frenchman previously managed the Ivory Coast squad at the 2014 FIFA World Cup but failed to advance beyond the group stage. In 1998, Tunisia sacked Henryk Kasperczak after two group games, both losses. They drew the third match but still came bottom of the group.
