Nasreddine Nabi rebuffs Tunisia advances over vacant post

Nabi rejects Tunisia head coach role

Photo: Gallo Images

Former Kaizer Chiefs head coach Nasreddine Nabi has rejected the opportunity to lead the Tunisia national team at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

This comes after the Carthage Eagles parted ways with Sami Trabelsi after a shock Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Round of 16 exit at the hands of 10-man Mali in a shootout.

Nabi is currently unattached after mutually cutting ties with Chiefs in October 2025, after ending the club's decade-long trophy drought with the Nedbank Cup triumph.

However, the Tunisian mentor is understood to have no intention of returning to the dugout yet due to personal reasons, despite other links with Algerian Ligue 1 side MC Oran.

With Nabi rebuffing advances from FTF, sources have indicated that the association has shifted focus to other candidates on the list.

The Tunisian mother body is said to have made contact with Franck Haise, Olivier Dall'Oglio, Ronny Deila, Sabri Lamouchi, Walter Mazzari, Moine Chaabani, and current Nigeria boss Eric Chelle.

FTF will pick a candidate based on the financial feasibility of a potential deal as they look to swiftly install a new coach in the dugout.

Tunisia are in Group C alongside Netherlands, Japan and an unconfirmed opponent from the UEFA Playoff, in the upcoming continental showpiece set to be co-hosted by USA, Canada, and Mexico.