FIFA World Cup: Tunisia sack coach Sabri Lamouchi after Sweden defeat

BIZERTE: The Tunisian Football Federation (FTF) on Tuesday announced sacking Sabri Lamouchi as the coach of its national team following a gruelling 5-1 defeat at the hands of Sweden in their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign opener in Monterrey on Sunday.

Lamouchi, who represented France in 12 international matches, assumed the coaching role of Tunisia in January on a two-year contract, but the North African side could win just one of their five games under the 54-year-old – a 1-0 triumph over Haiti in March.

Following the narrow victory, Tunisia suffered defeats against Austria and Belgium in a pair of FIFA World Cup warm-up matches this month.

The North African side had an equally disappointing start to the main tournament as they succumbed to a 5-1 defeat at the hands of Sweden, which eventually proved decisive in Lamouchi's sacking as their head coach.

The former France midfielder has been replaced by compatriot Herve Renard, who is set to take charge until the completion of their ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign, following which the negotiations for a long-term partnership will be opened, said the FTF in a statement on social media.

"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 FTF's statement read.

According to the country's state-owned broadcaster, Television Tunisienne, Renard is slated to reach Monterrey and link up with the squad on Tuesday, just three days before Tunisia's second group-stage match against Japan on Saturday.

Renard, a two-time African Cup of Nations winner, has served as Saudi Arabia's coach at the 2022 edition of the FIFA World Cup, during which the side stunned eventual champions Argentina in the group stage.

Following a spirited World Cup campaign, Renard left to coach the France women's team at the World Cup in 2023 and the Paris Olympics, before returning to Saudi Arabia and helping the men's side qualify for a third successive mega event, until being replaced by Georgios Donis in the build-up to the ongoing 48-team tournament.