Shockwaves among the Eagles of Carthage. A day after their heavy defeat to Sweden (5-1) in their World Cup 2026 opener, the Tunisian Football Federation confirmed on Monday 15 June, via state television, the dismissal of head coach Sabri Lamouchi. To steer the side through the rest of the tournament, the federation has turned to another French coach well known across the continent: Hervé Renard.
The axe fell quickly — and decisively. Appointed only in January, Lamouchi lasted just one game at this World Cup before his contract was terminated by mutual agreement. The thrashing by Sweden — five goals conceded by a team that hadn’t let in a single one during qualifying — sealed a decision that had been brewing, amid lingering criticism over his handling of the dressing room. In Monterrey, Tunisia’s tournament opener turned into a nightmare, and the federation chose to act boldly rather than wait.
Enter Hervé Renard, a two-time Africa Cup of Nations winner (with Zambia in 2012 and Ivory Coast in 2015) and a seasoned expert of African football. Expected to join the squad without delay, he inherits a tough brief: lift a side bruised mentally and revive it as soon as the second match against Japan on Sunday 21 June, before facing the Netherlands. All is not lost, though: with eight of the twelve best third-placed teams advancing to the round of 32, Tunisia still have a window. The task now is to rediscover, and fast, a performance worthy of the name.