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| Tunisia national football team | |
|---|---|
| Name | Tunisia |
| Association | Tunisian Football Federation |
| Confederation | CAF (UNAF) |
| Coach | Jamal Sellami |
| Captain | Youssef Msakni |
| Most caps | Radhi Jaïdi (105) |
| Top scorer | Issam Jemâa (36) |
| Home stadium | Stade Olympique de Radès |
| Fifa trigramme | TUN |
| Fifa rank | 40 |
| Pattern la1 | _tunisia |
| Pattern b1 | _tunisia |
| Pattern ra1 | _tunisia |
| Leftarm1 | FF0000 |
| Body1 | FF0000 |
| Rightarm1 | FF0000 |
| Shorts1 | FFFFFF |
| Socks1 | FF0000 |
Tunisia national football team is the senior international association football side representing Tunisia in men's competitions. Controlled by the Tunisian Football Federation, the squad competes in tournaments organized by FIFA and CAF. Often nicknamed the "Eagles of Carthage", the team has appeared at multiple FIFA World Cup tournaments and has won regional honours including the Africa Cup of Nations third place and several Arab Cup achievements.
The national side debuted in the 1920s under colonial-era clubs and later formed an organized federation in 1957, linking to FIFA and CAF. Early post-independence campaigns included matches versus Morocco national football team, Algeria national football team, Egypt national football team and fixtures at the inaugural Mediterranean Games and Pan Arab Games. Tunisia's breakthrough came in the 1960s and 1970s against opponents such as Senegal national football team, Nigeria national football team, Cameroon national football team and Ghana national football team. The first World Cup qualification was achieved for 1978 FIFA World Cup with a landmark victory over Mexico national football team in Argentina, followed by historic wins and draws against Poland national football team and West Germany national football team before Germany national football team reunification. Subsequent decades featured campaigns under coaches including Roger Lemerre, Henryk Kasperczak, Frédéric Antonetti, Nabil Maâloul and continental qualification clashes with Ivory Coast national football team, South Africa national football team, Cameroon national football team and Morocco national football team. Recent participations include 2018 FIFA World Cup and 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying cycles with fixtures against Republic of Ireland national football team-style European opposition in friendlies and tournament play.
The team's crest and colors draw on national symbols such as the Flag of Tunisia and references to Carthaginian heritage and Amazigh people influences. Kit manufacturers from international brands have supplied home and away strips featuring red and white similar to kits worn by clubs like Club Africain and Espérance Sportive de Tunis. Nicknames include "Les Aigles de Carthage" and supporters often sing songs referencing Habib Bourguiba era popular culture and local artists from Tunis and Sfax. Rivalries are strong with Algeria national football team, Morocco national football team and Egypt national football team, while friendly ties exist with Portugal national football team-style European partners and Turkey national football team for training camps.
Primary home matches are held at Stade Olympique de Radès near Tunis; other venues include Stade 7 November (now known as Stade Hammadi Agrebi), Stade Mustapha Ben Jannet in Monastir, Stade Taïeb Mhiri in Sfax and Stade Municipal de Rades for domestic cup finals. The federation operates training centers and youth academies linked to clubs such as Club Africain, Espérance Sportive de Tunis, Étoile Sportive du Sahel and CS Sfaxien. High-performance work happens at federative hubs collaborating with institutions like Université de Tunis El Manar sports science departments and partnerships with European clubs including Olympique de Marseille and FC Nantes for player development.
The team's match calendar includes World Cup qualification rounds, Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, FIFA international friendly windows and regional tournaments like the Arab Cup. Typical opponents span Nigeria national under-23 football team (Olympic qualifiers), Senegal national football team, Congo national football team and visiting European sides during training camps. Fixtures have featured continental qualifiers against Mali national football team, Burkina Faso national football team, Zambia national football team and intercontinental friendlies versus Brazil national football team-style virtuoso squads. The federation publishes squads for upcoming matches against teams such as Gabon national football team and Namibia national football team.
Notable alumni include Radhi Jaïdi, Issam Jemâa, Hatem Trabelsi, Wahbi Khazri, Aymen Abdennour, Ali Boumnijel, Ziad Jaziri, Youssef Msakni, Anis Ben Slimane, Saad Bguir and Mohamed Ali Moncer. Talent pathways often run through clubs like Espérance Sportive de Tunis, Étoile Sportive du Sahel, Club Africain and CS Sfaxien before moves to European leagues including Serie A, Ligue 1, La Liga and the Premier League. Youth prospects emerge from tournaments such as the FIFA U-20 World Cup and CAF U-23 Championship with scouting interest from FC Porto, Standard Liège and RSC Anderlecht.
The technical team has featured managers and specialists including Roger Lemerre, Henryk Kasperczak, Nabil Maâloul, Faouzi Benzarti and Jamal Sellami, supported by fitness coaches, goalkeeping coaches and analysts with ties to UEFA Pro Licence programs and training exchanges with French Football Federation instructors. The federation's sporting director liaises with club academies and national youth coaches involved in UEFA coaching education collaborations and CAF coaching courses.
World Cup appearances include debuts at 1978 FIFA World Cup and subsequent qualifications for 1998 FIFA World Cup, 2002 FIFA World Cup, 2006 FIFA World Cup, 2018 FIFA World Cup and 2022 FIFA World Cup cycles with group-stage matches against teams like England national football team, Belgium national football team and Germany national football team. Africa Cup of Nations participations span multiple tournaments with best stage finishes and knockout ties versus Nigeria national football team, Cameroon national football team and Ivory Coast national football team. Regional competitions include victory runs in Arab Cup editions and Mediterranean challenges against Spain national football team-style youth sides.
The side's honours list features titles and placings in the Arab Cup, African Nations Championship appearances, and podium finishes at Mediterranean Games and regional tournaments. Individual records include most caps by Radhi Jaïdi and top scorers such as Issam Jemâa; standout performances have earned awards in CAF Team of the Year considerations and nominations for African Footballer of the Year. Statistical rivalries record head-to-head tallies with Algeria national football team, Morocco national football team and Egypt national football team.
Category:North African national football teams