00:03Tunisia became the first African nation ever to win a match at the World Cup when they beat
00:08Mexico 3-1 in 1978. That was on debut when they've made five further appearances on the
00:18game's greatest stage, with 2026 representing a third successful qualification in a row.
00:26The Eagles of Carthage established themselves on the international scene during the 1970s,
00:32but it would not be until 2004 that they would have anything to show for it.
00:39On home soil, they won their only Africa Cup of Nations to date,
00:44defeating heavyweights Morocco, Nigeria and Senegal en route to the title.
00:50The victory made coach Roger Lemaire the first in world football to win the Continental Championship
00:56in two confederations, after previously leading France to glory at Euro 2000.
01:04Lemaire was the last coach of Tunisia to survive more than 32 matches in the dugout.
01:10Since his departure in 2008, staff turnover has been frequent.
01:17Jalal Qadri held the reigns at Qatar 2022, but he left in 2024, followed by a series of short-term
01:25fixes.
01:26Sami Trabelzi, who coached the team from 2011 to 2013, appears to be the man who will take his country
01:33to North America, following a 10-year stint with Al Salihya in the Qatar Stars League.
01:42Trabelzi, who won 81 caps as a central defender, helped Tunisia dominate CAF qualifying Group H,
01:49without conceding a single goal in 10 matches.
01:53But in half their fixtures, they scored only one goal or fewer.
02:00After Qatar 2022, Tunisia's ranking dropped steadily, bottoming out at 52 in the world.
02:07They are now back heading in a positive direction.
02:14The likely captain in North America is Naeem Sliti, a well-travelled winger,
02:20now applying his trade in Qatar for Al-Shamal.
02:23It's always a pleasure. The Tunisian national team has always been a goal for me.
02:32Even when I was injured and without a club, I always had in my mind to come back fully and
02:37return
02:37to the national team. And thanks to God, I came back. There have been many changes within the team,
02:43a new president, new management, a new coach. It's a pleasure to be part of this project. Regarding my
02:49role, the coach relies on me a lot as a senior member of the team, to also help off the
02:53field. Because, you know,
02:55football isn't just about what happens on the pitch. It's also about what happens off it, how to manage
03:00the group. Lately, it has been very difficult. The players were deeply affected by what happened.
03:06Those were tough times, just like for any national team, for the whole group. But thanks to God,
03:12we have moved forward in a positive direction. Now it's about maintaining that momentum and continuing
03:17to grow. I have a role to play. And if I am called up to the national team, I will
03:22always give 100%.
03:28Slity grew up in Marseille and is one of a number of French-born players in the Tunisian squad,
03:34reflecting the influence of the European country on one of its former colonies.
03:45The French-born French-born players make up the majority of the unbeatable Tunisian defence.
03:52That includes the imposing Montessar Talbi, who plays in Ligue 1 for Lorient.
04:04Elias Shaqiri was also born in France, but now earns his stripes in the Bundesliga,
04:09the same competition as German-born Elias Saad.
04:20Goals have been hard to come by for Tunisia, despite their defensive solidity.
04:26Mohamed Ali Ben-Rondana top scored during qualification,
04:30but two of his four goals were penalties.
04:36Finding some firepower in North America will be essential if the North African trailblazers are to
04:42progress beyond the group phase for the first time in their history, and add to the region's
04:48burgeoning reputation on the highest level.
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