00:03Tunisia became the first African nation ever to win a match at the World Cup when they beat
00:09Mexico 3-1 in 1978. That was on debut, and they've made five further appearances on the
00:18game's greatest stage, with 2026 representing a third successful qualification in a row.
00:27The 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.
00:40On home soil, they won their only Africa Cup of Nations to date, defeating heavyweights
00:46Morocco, Nigeria and Senegal en route to the title. The victory made coach Roger Lemaire
00:53the first in world football to win the Continental Championship in two confederations, after
00:59previously 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
01:11departure 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.
01:27Sami Trebelzi, who coached the team from 2011 to 2013, appears to be the man who will take his country
01:33to
01:33North America, following a 10-year stint with Al-Salia in the Qatar Stars League.
01:43Trebelzi, who won 81 caps as a central defender, helped Tunisia dominate CAF qualifying Group H,
01:50without conceding a single goal in 10 matches. But 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.
02:08They are now back heading in a positive direction.
02:14The likely captain in North America is Naeem Slity, a well-travelled winger, now applying his trade in Qatar for
02:22Al-Shamal.
02:27It'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 to the national team. And thanks to God, I came back. There have been many changes within the
02:43team – a new president, new management, a 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
02:59off it, how to manage the group. Lately it has been very difficult. The players were deeply affected by
03:05what happened. Those 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
03:23always give 100%.
03:29Slity grew up in Marseille and is one of a number of French-born players in the Tunisian squad,
03:35reflecting the influence of the European country on one of its former colonies.
03:46The 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,
04:07but now earns his stripes in the Bundesliga, the same competition as German-born Elias Saad.
04:21Goals 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.
04:37Finding some firepower in North America will be essential if the North African trailblazers are to
04:43progress beyond the group phase for the first time in their history,
04:46and add to the region's burgeoning reputation on the highest level.
04:51let's go out the first step!
04:51If you go out a little bit,
04:51let's go out a little bit.
04:51You can see two ways at the end,
04:51but let's go out and get to the future!
04:51The first step is to be able to understand this one of the strategies for you to find the future.
04:52Good stuff.
04:52Uncle John Daniel Ben-Rondana top
04:52The third step is to have to be able to understand this!'
04:53a little bit more than a little bit more.
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