Tunisia Coach Trabelsi Hints at Resignation Before Tanzania Clash: "If I feel the conditions are unsuitable, I will withdraw"

Sami Trabelsi, head coach of the Tunisian national football team, announced his readiness to step down from his position if he feels unable to continue his mission. His remarks came during a press conference held today, Monday, in Rabat, ahead of the crucial match against Tanzania in the third and final round of the group stage of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, hosted in Morocco. He affirmed, "When I feel that I am no longer suitable, or that the working conditions are no longer favorable, I will withdraw."

Trabelsi's statements come amidst escalating criticism following the 3-2 defeat to Nigeria in the second round in Fez. The criticism particularly focused on the team's weak performance during the opening minutes of the match and the decision not to start Scottish Celtic striker Sebastian Toniketi until the second half, where he delivered a positive display.

The "Carthage Eagles" coach asserted that he is not preoccupied with the criticism, emphasizing that it has accompanied him for a long time, even in friendly matches. He stated, "I am not here to respond to criticism, because it is not new; it arises with every match, and everyone views football from their own perspective. I only work for the benefit of the national team, and there are good periods and difficult ones in any team's journey."

Trabelsi explained that the loss to Nigeria is part of football, noting, "Losing is part of football, and it came against a strong team with high-caliber players like Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, and Akor Adams, who are considered among the best in the continent over the past two years."

He indicated that the main reason for the defeat was the loss of dominance in one-on-one duels, both defensively and offensively, considering this aspect crucial for asserting control. He said, "One of the reasons for the defeat was our loss of superiority in individual duels, and when that happens, talk about tactical plans becomes meaningless."

Trabelsi criticized what he described as attempts by some media outlets to exaggerate marginal issues, affirming his commitment to working calmly. He added, "Media sometimes look for out-of-context topics to fuel criticism, but I don't care, and I will continue my work."

He also expressed his dissatisfaction with the coach alone being held responsible for failures, while success is attributed to everyone. Describing some accusations regarding his lack of interaction with his technical staff, he stated, "When we win, the entire technical staff is praised, but when we lose, the coach alone bears the responsibility, and it's said that he doesn't interact with his technical staff, which is illogical."

Regarding the decision not to start Sebastian Toniketi, he explained that the technical staff is working to restore the psychological balance of some players who have experienced marginalization. He affirmed, "Toniketi is an excellent player, and whenever the opportunity arises, we will rely on him, just as we do with the rest of the players; we are proud of all our players."