Africa. Tunisia has qualified for the Round of 16 in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations despite a 1-1 draw against Tanzania. The team will face Mali in the knockout stage. Tunisia’s performance varied in the group stage, and they faced criticism after a loss to Nigeria. Coach Sami Trabelsi emphasized the team’s focus on winning against Tanzania to secure their advancement.
Africa. Tunisia qualified for the Round of 16 of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations despite drawing 1-1 against Tanzania on Tuesday in their final group stage match in Rabat. They will face Mali next Saturday in Casablanca. Meanwhile, Nigeria defeated Uganda 3-1, and Tanzania advanced to the knockout stage for the first time in their history.
The Tunisian team displayed two different faces in the first two rounds of the group stage, dominating Uganda in their opener (3-1) but succumbing to Nigeria in the next match (2-3). This left them needing a decisive result against Tanzania to ensure their official qualification for the Round of 16, avoiding reliance on third-place standings.
As a result, coach Sami Trabelsi faced harsh criticism in Tunisian media and on social networks. However, he stated on the eve of the match against Tanzania: “We confirmed we moved past the negatives and positives of the Nigeria match and focused on mentally preparing for the Tanzania game.”
Trabelsi emphasized that his goal was to win, asserting that he would not play for a draw, which would still guarantee their advancement to the knockout stage. Player Dylan Bronn expressed confidence in their ability to achieve good results, highlighting that “the atmosphere and conditions are favorable for achieving the best outcomes.”
The weather conditions were much better than in their first match against Uganda at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat. The starting lineup changed with the inclusion of standout player Sébastien Tounkti (from Celtic Glasgow) to bolster the midfield alongside Bronn, Hannibal Mejbri, and Elyes Skhiri, while the attack featured Elyes Achouri behind the duo of Ismail Ghazali and Hazem Mestouri.
Aymen Dahmen remained in goal, supported by the trio of Montasser Talbi, Yan Valery, and Ali Abdi. Tanzania’s lineup included midfielder Simon Msuva from JS Kabylie and seven players from the Tanzanian league, including three from Yanga SC.
Although Tunisia needed just a point to confirm their presence in the Round of 16, they began the match with the intention to win, controlling the game in the first quarter-hour and launching several dangerous attacks. The first came in the 11th minute from Mejbri inside the 18-yard box after a throw-in executed by Abdi right in front of the goal, but the defense quickly intervened to avert danger. The second came in the 14th minute with a shot from Ghazali hitting the crossbar.
Ghazali also shot over the goal in the 21st minute following a collective play, and he nearly scored the goal of the tournament in the 27th minute with a shot from midfield, taking advantage of Tanzanian goalkeeper Hussein Masalanga’s advance, but the ball went wide.
Tunisia finally earned a penalty in the 41st minute after a foul on Mestouri by defender Abdullah, which Ghazali converted to give Tunisia the lead. The Congolese referee Jean-Jacques Ndala used video technology to verify its legitimacy. The “Eagles of Carthage” felt relieved when Nigeria took the lead against Uganda in the second group match, confirming their qualification in second place.
However, upon returning from halftime, goalkeeper Dahmen was surprised by a powerful shot from player Faisal Abdullah that found the net, leveling the score and putting Tunisia back into calculations, as Tanzania only needed a second goal to eliminate their rivals’ hopes. Tunisia then lost Achouri to injury, replaced by Ferjani Sassi.
The score remained unchanged, allowing Tunisia to advance in second place behind group leaders Nigeria.
The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is the main international football competition in Africa, organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). Established in 1957, it has grown to include numerous teams from across the continent, showcasing the best talent in African football. Tunisia has a rich footballing history, having won the tournament in 2004 and consistently performing well in regional competitions.
