Tunisia national minifootball team

Men's national association football team representing Tunisia

Tunisia

Nickname(s)| نسور قرطاج
(Eagles of Carthage)
Association| TMF
Other affiliation| ARMF (Arab world)
Confederation| AMC (Africa)
Head coach| Riadh Ben Hamdia

First colours

Second colours

|

First international
Tunisia 3–3 Spain
(Tunis, Tunisia; 2 May 2016)
Biggest win
Tunisia 18–0 South Africa
(Tripoli, Libya; 10 May 2018)
Biggest defeat
Tunisia 0–7 Mexico
(Nabeul, Tunisia; 13 October 2017)
Tunisia 0–7 Mexico
(Perth, Australia; 8 October 2019)
WMF World Cup
Appearances| 2 (first in 2017)
Best result| Quarter-finals (2017)
African Minifootball Cup
Appearances| 1 (first in 2018)
Best result| Third place (2018)
WMF Continental Cup
Appearances| 1 (first in 2019)
Best result| Runner-up (2019)

Medal record

Men's Football
WMF Continental Cup
| 2019 Tunisia | Team
African Minifootball Cup
| 2018 Libya | Team
Arab Minifootball Cup
| 2024 Egypt | Team

The Tunisia national minifootball team represents Tunisia in men's international Minifootball competitions and it is controlled by the Tunisian Minifootball Federation (TMF), which governs minifootball in Tunisia. On the continental level, the team competes under the African Minifootball Confederation (AMC), which governs associate football in Africa, and is also affiliated with World Minifootball Federation (WMF) for global competitions. The team is colloquially known as Eagles of Carthage by fans and the media, with the bald eagle serving as its symbol. Their home kit is primarily red and their away kit is white, which is a reference to the national flag of Tunisia. The team has qualified for the WMF World Cup two times, qualified for the African Minifootball Cup one time, competed in one edition of WMF Continental Cup where he finished in second place and one participation in the Arab Minifootball Cup.

## History

[edit]

The minifootball activity in Tunisia started in 2016 with the establishment of the Tunisian Minifootball Federation through businessman Achraf Ben Salha. Tunisia played their first match against Spain in 2 May 2016 and it ended in a 3−3 draw. At the local championship level, the first edition tool place in 2016 was contested with 12 teams. Since then, total number of clubs affiliated to the federation has risen to more than 150, in four corners of Tunisia, with different levels. Latest upgrade was introduction of VAR, establishment of training sessions for minifootball coaches, and organization of the first ladies minifootball championship 2019–20 season.[1]

In the next year, Tunisia hosted the 2017 WMF World Cup, which was played from 6 to 15 October 2017 in Nabeul with the participation of 24 teams.[2] The team was placed in Group F alongside Libya, Lebanon and Portugal. In the opening match against Portugal, Tunisia won 3−2, another big victory against Lebanon 6−1 and a draw against Libya 2−2 to finish the group stage at the top. In the round of 16, Tunisia beat strong Kazakhstan 4−3 on penalties after a 2−2 draw. In the quarter-finals, the team suffered a heavy defeat against Mexico 0−7 and leave the tournament. At the end of the tournament, Ouday Belhaj was chosen as the best player.

In the next year, the team participate at the African Minifootball Cup for the first time in the 2018 edition in Tripoli, Libya. The team was placed in Group B alongside Nigeria, Senegal aand South Africa. Tunisia drew 1−1 with Senegal in the first match, winning against Nigeria 3−1 in the second match and a resounding victory in the third match against South Africa 18−0 to finish the group stage at the top. Tunisia were eliminated from the semi-finals against Ivory Coast on penalties 6−7 after a 2−2 draw. The team get the bronze medal after defeating the host Libya in the third-place match with a score of 1−0.

In March 2019, Tunisia hosted the first edition of the WMF Continental Cup with the participation of 8 teams at the Five Stars Stadium in Tunis. The team was placed in Group A alongside England, Guatemala and Switzerland. Tunisia produced a stunning performance after beating Switzerland 5−1, a big win over Guatemala 9−0 and another win over England 3−0 to top the group and qualify for the final where they lost to world champions Czech Republic 4−5 to get the silver medal.

Thanks to the African participation, the team qualified for the 2019 WMF World Cup in Perth, Australia. The team was placed in Group F alongside Costa Rica, Japan and Slovakia. Tunisia achieved a big win against Costa Rica 8−0 and two draws against Japan 0−0 and Slovakia 1−1. In the round of 16, Mexico defeated Tunisia again with the same result as two years ago, 0−7. Since the COVID-19 pandemic that began in 2020, Tunisia has not participated in any event, especially the 2023 WMF World Cup in the United Arab Emirates, the 2021 African Minifootball Cup in Nigeria and the 2024 African Minifootball Cup in South Africa. Tunisia is set to participate in the 2025 African Minifootball Cup in Derna, Libya.

## Current staff

[edit]

Last update: 1 August 2024

Position  | Name

|

Head coach  |  Riadh Ben Hamdia
Assistant coach  |  Ali Belmadhouna
Physiotherapist  |  Arbi Belhadj

### Managerial history

[edit]

* Mokhtar Tlili (2016–2018)[3]
* Sofyen Brinis (2018–2020)
* Mahdi Abachi (2023–2024)[4]
* Riadh Ben Hmida (2024–present)[5]

## Competitive records

[edit]

Champions Runners-up Third place Fourth place

* Red border color indicates tournament was held on home soil.

### WMF World Cup

[edit]

2017 WMF World Cup logo, the tournament was held in Tunisia. WMF World Cup

Year  | Round  | Position  | Pld | W | D*  | L | GF | GA
2015 | Did not enter
2017 | Quarter-finals  | 5th  | 5  | 3  | 1  | 1  | 13  | 14
2019 | Round of 16  | 15th  | 4  | 1  | 2  | 1  | 9  | 8
2023 | Did not enter
2025
Total | Quarter-finals | 2/4 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 22 | 22

### WMF Continental Cup

[edit]

WMF Continental Cup

Year  | Round  | Position  | Pld | W | D*  | L | GF | GA
2019 | Runners-up  | 2nd  | 4  | 3  | 0  | 1  | 21  | 6
Total | Runners-up | 1/1 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 21 | 6

### African Minifootball Cup

[edit]

African Minifootball Cup

Year  | Round  | Position  | Pld | W | D*  | L | GF | GA
2018 | Third place  | 3rd  | 5  | 3  | 2  | 0  | 25  | 4
2021 | Did not enter
2024
2025 | Qualified
Total | Third place | 1/4 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 25 | 4

### Arab Minifootball Cup

[edit]

Arab Minifootball Cup

Year  | Round  | Position  | Pld | W | D*  | L | GF | GA
2024 | Third place  | 3rd  | 3  | 0  | 1  | 2  | 1  | 3
Total | Third place | 1/1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3

## Statistics

[edit]

### Results in major compititions

[edit]

Part | Year  | Stage  | Date  | Opponent  | Result  | Tunisia goalscorers  | Venue

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

WMF World Cup
1  |  2017 | Group stage  | 6 October 2017  |  Portugal | 3–2  | Mohamed Azouni  1'
Ben Taleb Mohamed Ali  9'
Ouday Belhaj  13' | Nabeul Minifoot Stadium, Nabeul
9 October 2017  |  Lebanon | 6–1  | Mohamed Azouni  9', 28'
Ouday Belhaj  24', 27'
Hamza Firas Maiza  47'
Abdessattar Grissa  49'
11 October 2017  |  Libya | 2–2  | Mohamed Azouni  12'
Ouday Belhaj  13'
Round of 16  | 12 October 2017  |  Kazakhstan | 2–2 (4–3 p) | Mohamed Ali Karoula  24'
Bilel Ben Souda  50'
Quarter-finals  | 13 October 2017  |  Mexico | 0–7  | —
2  |  2019 | Group stage  | 2 October 2019  |  Costa Rica | 8–0  | Chbil Tayeb  5'
Ben Taleb Mohamed Ali  6', 8'
Omar Nasri  27', 34'
Karim Mrad  28'
Skander Loumi  41'
Riahi Makram  46' | Perth Minifoot Stadium, Perth
4 October 2019  |  Japan | 0–0  | —
6 October 2019  |  Slovakia | 1–1  | Filip Deket  41' (o.g.)
Round of 16  | 8 October 2019  |  Mexico | 0–7  | —
WMF Continental Cup
1  |  2019 | Group stage  | 14 March 2019  |  Switzerland | 5–1  | Ben Taleb Mohamed Ali  2', 12', 26'
Tayeb Chbil  18'
Karim Mrad  39' | Five Stars Stadium, Tunis
15 March 2019  |  Guatemala | 9–0  | Karim Mrad  8', 36'
Mohamed Moumi  13'
Ben Taleb Mohamed Ali  27'
Achraf Sati  36'
Hamza Firas Maiza  33'
Marwan Miraoui  35'
Montasser Hichri  46', 49'
15 March 2019  |  England | 3–0  | Walid Abdelli  22'
Karim Mrad  25'
Mohamid Chitiwi  25'
Final  | 16 March 2019  |  Czech Republic | 4–5  | Karim Mrad  27'
Ben Taleb Mohamed Ali  14'
Omar Nasri  23'
Montasser Hichri  52'
African Minifootball Cup
1  |  2018 | Group stage  | 6 May 2018  |  Senegal | 1–1  | Ouday Belhaj  44' | Al-Madina Stadium, Tripoli
8 May 2018  |  Nigeria | 3–1  | Ouday Belhaj  11'
Iheb Ben Salem  25'
Walid Abdelli  37'
10 May 2018  |  South Africa | 18–0  |  ?'

Iheb Ben Salem  18'
Hamid Al Dahli  28', 35'
Moez Al Bhoush  31', 23'
Achraf Sati  33'
Ouday Belhaj  39', 41', 45'
Walid Krout  39'
Walid Abdelli  42'
Iskander Ben Hmida  49', 50'
Semi-finals  | 11 May 2018  |  Ivory Coast | 2–2 (6–7 p) | Walid Krout  9'
Ouday Belhaj  14'
Third place match  | 12 May 2018  |  Libya | 1–0  | Hamid Al Dahli  11'

## Honours and awards

[edit]

### Honours

[edit]

* WMF Continental Cup

Runner-up: 2019

* African Minifootball Cup

Third-place: 2018

* Arab Minifootball Cup

Third-place: 2024

### Awards

[edit]

* WMF World Cup Best player

Ouday Belhaj (2017)[6]

## See also

[edit]

* Tunisian Minifootball Federation
* Tunisia national under-23 minifootball team

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Focus on mini-football in Tunisia". ettachkila. 4 September 2020.
2. ^ "Organisation of WMF World Cup 2017 goes to Tunisia". TAP. 27 August 2016. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
3. ^ "Tunisie-mini-foot : Mokhtar Tlili éjecté du poste d'entraîneur de la sélection nationale". African Manager (in French). 17 March 2018. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
4. ^ "Installation of the technical staff of the Tunisian national mini-football team". Facebook. 17 June 2023.
5. ^ "The composition of the technical staff of the national team". Facebook. 20 July 2024.
6. ^ kapitalis, webmaster (16 October 2017). "Coupe du monde de mini-foot 2017 : Le Tunisien Ouday Belhaj meilleur joueur" [2017 MiniFootball World Cup: Tunisian Ouday Belhaj best player]. Kapitalis (in French). Retrieved 2 December 2024.

## External links

[edit]

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