00:04Tunisia became the first African nation ever to win a match at the World Cup when they beat Mexico 3
00:10-1 in 1978.
00:15That was on debut, when they've made five further appearances on the game's greatest stage, with 2026 representing a third
00:23successful qualification in a row.
00:27The Eagles of Carthage established themselves on the international scene during the 1970s, but it would not be until 2004
00:35that they would have anything to show for it.
00:41On home soil, they won their only Africa Cup of Nations to date, defeating heavyweights Morocco, Nigeria and Senegal en
00:50route to the title.
00:51The victory made coach Roger Lemaire the first in world football to win the Continental Championship in two confederations, after
01:00previously leading France to glory at Euro 2000.
01:05Lemaire was the last coach of Tunisia to survive more than 32 matches in the dugout. Since his departure in
01:122008, staff turnover has been frequent.
01:18Jalal Qadri held the reigns at Qatar 2022, but he left in 2024, followed by a series of short-term
01:26fixes.
01:27Sami Trebelzi, who coached the team from 2011 to 2013, appears to be the man who will take his country
01:34to North America, following a ten-year stint with Al Salihya in the Qatar Stars League.
01:44Trebelzi, who won 81 caps as a central defender, helped Tunisia dominate CAF qualifying Group H, without conceding a single
01:52goal in ten matches.
01:54But in half their fixtures, they scored only one goal or fewer.
02:01After Qatar 2022, Tunisia's ranking dropped steadily, bottoming out at 52 in the world. They are now back heading in
02:10a positive direction.
02:15The likely captain in North America is Naeem Slity, a well-travelled winger, now applying his trade in Qatar for
02:23Al-Shamal.
02:28It's always a pleasure. The Tunisian national team has always been a goal for me. Even when I was injured
02:34and without a club, I always had in my mind to come back fully and return to the national team.
02:39And thanks to God, I came back. There have been many changes within the team. A new president, new management,
02:46a new coach. It's a pleasure to be part of this project.
02:49Regarding my role, the coach relies on me a lot as a senior member of the team, to also help
02:54off the field.
02:55Because, you know, football isn't just about what happens on the pitch. It's also about what happens off it, how
03:01to manage the group.
03:02Lately, it has been very difficult. The players were deeply affected by what happened. Those were tough times, just like
03:09for any national team, for the whole group.
03:12But thanks to God, we have moved forward in a positive direction. Now it's about maintaining that momentum and continuing
03:18to grow.
03:19I have a role to play. And if I am called up to the national team, I will always give
03:24100%.
03:29Slyti grew up in Marseille and is one of a number of French-born players in the Tunisian squad, reflecting
03:36the influence of the European country on one of its former colonies.
03:47Three further French-born players make up the majority of the unbeatable Tunisian defence.
03:53That includes the imposing Montessar Talbi, who plays in Ligue 1 for Lorient.
04:05Elias Shaqiri was also born in France, but now earns his stripes in the Bundesliga, the same competition as German
04:13-born Elias Saad.
04:22His goals have been hard to come by for Tunisia, despite their defensive solidity.
04:27Mohamed Ali Ben-Rondana top scored during qualification, but two of his four goals were penalties.
04:37Finding some firepower in North America will be essential if the North African trailblazers are to progress beyond the group
04:44phase for the first time in their history.
04:47And add to the region's burgeoning reputation on the highest level.
04:51TheƩfone major is a 84-279-4-252-2022-2022-2522-265-988-988-9988-988-988-988-1123-9988
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