Head coach of the Carthage Eagles, Sami Trabelsi, says Tunisia are now turning their full attention to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, after bowing out of the FIFA Arab Cup, a campaign he insists was affected heavily by the absence of key players.
Tunisia exited the tournament earlier than expected, but Trabelsi was quick to stress that the squad used in Qatar was not close to the full-strength team that will represent the country at AFCON.
“We did not have our complete squad. Many of our players were with their clubs, and that affected our performance,” he explained.
The coach said the Arab Cup served more as an opportunity to evaluate depth rather than a true indicator of Tunisia’s AFCON capability.
“We used what was available. When the main players arrive, the picture will be different,” he added.
With AFCON kicking off on 21 December 2025, Trabelsi said the focus is now entirely on building a competitive and balanced team capable of navigating a tricky Group C that includes Nigeria, Uganda, and Tanzania.
“Now the preparation truly begins. AFCON is our priority, and we will be ready when all the invited players come to camp,” he assured.
Trabelsi expressed confidence that once the full squad assembles, including Europe-based stars, Tunisia will possess the quality, experience, and tactical cohesion needed to challenge the best teams on the continent.
“When everyone is together, we can compete strongly. Tunisia always aims to go far in AFCON, and this tournament will not be different,” he said.
He acknowledged that the Arab Cup highlighted areas that still need improvement, particularly defensive transitions and attacking sharpness, but insisted the team has the structure and character to fix those issues before AFCON begins.
“We have seen what needs work, and we will address it. The players know the level required in Morocco,” he stated.
The Carthage Eagles remain one of Africa’s most tactically disciplined sides, and Trabelsi believes the upcoming weeks will be enough to shape a team worthy of the tournament.
“We will arrive in Morocco ready. With our full squad, confidence is high,” he concluded.
