Tunisia have parted ways with head coach Sabri Lamouchi following a crushing 5-1 defeat to Sweden in their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, making him the first manager in tournament history to lose his job after just one game.
The Tunisian Football Association confirmed on Tuesday that Lamouchi had left his position by mutual agreement, ending the French coach’s five-month tenure with the Carthage Eagles.
Lamouchi was appointed in January after Tunisia’s round-of-16 exit at the Africa Cup of Nations, replacing Sami Trabelsi. However, the former Nottingham Forest manager struggled to turn results around, securing just one victory in five matches at the helm.
Tunisia’s World Cup campaign got off to a disastrous start at Estadio Monterrey in Guadalupe, Mexico, where Sweden handed the North Africans a heavy defeat that left their hopes of advancing from Group F in serious doubt.
In a bid to revive their tournament ambitions, the federation has moved swiftly to appoint experienced coach HervĂ© Renard as Lamouchi’s replacement for the remainder of the competition.
Renard, one of Africa’s most successful international coaches, now faces the challenge of reigniting Tunisia’s World Cup campaign ahead of crucial group-stage matches against Japan and the Netherlands.
With qualification hopes hanging in the balance, the Carthage Eagles will be looking for an immediate response under new leadership as they seek to keep their 2026 FIFA World Cup journey alive.
