Tunisia have moved swiftly to revive their FIFA World Cup campaign, sacking head coach Sabri Lamouchi and appointing experienced French manager Herve Renard following the team’s crushing 5-1 defeat to Sweden in their opening Group F match.
The Tunisian Football Federation (FTF) confirmed Lamouchi’s departure on Tuesday, making him the first managerial casualty of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after just one game at the tournament.
Lamouchi, 54, had only been appointed in January on a contract running until 2028 following Tunisia’s Africa Cup of Nations disappointment. However, a poor run of results ultimately proved costly.
His tenure lasted just five matches and yielded only one victory, a 1-0 win over Haiti in March. Tunisia subsequently drew 0-0 with Canada before suffering defeats to Austria, Belgium and Sweden, scoring only once across those four matches while conceding 11 goals.
The final blow came in Monterrey, where Sweden dismantled the Eagles of Carthage 5-1 in a result that left Tunisia rooted to the bottom of Group F ahead of crucial fixtures against Japan and the Netherlands.
Following an emergency review of the team’s World Cup start, the FTF opted for immediate change and turned to one of Africa’s most successful international coaches.
“The Federation Tunisienne de Football announces the termination of its contractual relationship with head coach Sabri Lamouchi by mutual agreement and wishes him every success in his future professional endeavours,” the federation said in a statement.
The FTF also confirmed the appointment of Renard until the conclusion of Tunisia’s World Cup campaign.
“The agreement also stipulates that negotiations will be opened after the World Cup campaign to consider a long-term partnership based on specific sporting objectives,” the federation added.
Renard arrives with extensive international pedigree and a proven track record on the African continent. The 57-year-old remains the only coach to have won the Africa Cup of Nations with two different countries, guiding Zambia to a famous triumph in 2012 before leading Ivory Coast to continental glory in 2015.
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He also boasts significant World Cup experience, having managed Morocco at the 2018 tournament before overseeing one of the greatest upsets in World Cup history when Saudi Arabia defeated eventual champions Argentina 2-1 in Qatar four years later.
After spells with the French women’s national team and a return to Saudi Arabia, Renard now faces the challenge of rescuing Tunisia’s campaign with little time to prepare.
His first task will be Saturday’s must-win clash against Japan before Tunisia conclude their group-stage campaign against the Netherlands on June 25.
The decision marks the second time Tunisia have changed coaches during a World Cup, having previously dismissed Henryk Kasperczak after two defeats at the 1998 tournament in France.
After the heaviest defeat of the opening round, the Carthage Eagles have chosen experience over patience. Whether the gamble pays off could determine the future direction of Tunisian football long after this World Cup ends.
