Tunisia national minifootball team explained

Tunisia
Badge:Tunisian Minifootball Federation.jpg
Nickname:Arabic: نسور قرطاج
(Eagles of Carthage)
Association:TMF
Other-Affiliation:ARMF (Arab world)
Confederation:AMC (Africa)
Coach:Riadh Ben Hamdia
Pattern La1:_redborder
Pattern Ra1:_redborder
Leftarm1:FFFFFF
Body1:FFFFFF
Rightarm1:FFFFFF
Shorts1:FFFFFF
Socks1:FFFFFF
Pattern La2:_whiteborder
Pattern Ra2:_whiteborder
Leftarm2:FF0000
Body2:FF0000
Rightarm2:FF0000
Shorts2:FF0000
Socks2:FF0000
First Game: Tunisia 3–3
(Tunis, Tunisia; 2 May 2016)
Largest Win: Tunisia 18–0
(Tripoli, Libya; 10 May 2018)
Largest Loss: Tunisia 0–7
(Nabeul, Tunisia; 13 October 2017)
Tunisia 0–7
(Perth, Australia; 8 October 2019)
Regional Name:WMF World Cup
Regional Cup First:2017
Regional Cup Apps:2
Regional Cup Best:Quarter-finals (2017)
2Ndregional Name:African Minifootball Cup
2Ndregional Cup Apps:1
2Ndregional Cup First:2018
2Ndregional Cup Best:Third place (2018)
3Rdregional Name:WMF Continental Cup
3Rdregional Cup Apps:1
3Rdregional Cup First:2019
3Rdregional Cup Best:Runner-up (2019)

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

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

Last update: 1 August 2024

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

Managerial history

Competitive records

Champions   Runners-up   Third place   Fourth place

WMF World Cup

WMF World Cup
YearRoundPosition
2015Did not enter
2017Quarter-finals5th53111314
2019Round of 1615th412198
2023Did not enter
2025TBD
TotalQuarter-finals2/494322222

WMF Continental Cup

WMF Continental Cup
YearRoundPosition
2019Runners-up2nd4301216
2021Did not qualify
TotalRunners-up1/14301216

African Minifootball Cup

African Minifootball Cup
YearRoundPosition
2018Third place3rd5320254
2021Did not enter
2024
2025Qualified
TotalThird place1/45320254

Arab Minifootball Cup

Arab Minifootball Cup
YearRoundPosition
2024Third place3rd301213
TotalThird place1/1301213

Statistics

Results in major compititions

YearStageDateOpponentResultVenue
WMF World Cup
1 2017Group stage6 October 20173–2Nabeul Minifoot Stadium, Nabeul
Group stage9 October 20176–1
Group stage11 October 20172–2
Round of 1612 October 20172–2
Quarter-finals13 October 20170–7
2 2019Group stage2 October 20198–0Perth Minifoot Stadium, Perth
Group stage4 October 20190–0
Group stage6 October 20191–1
Round of 168 October 20190–7
WMF Continental Cup
1 2019Group stage14 March 20195–1Five Stars Stadium, Tunis
Group stage15 March 20199–0
Group stage15 March 20193–0
Final16 March 20194–5
African Minifootball Cup
1 2018Group stage6 May 20181–1Al-Madina Stadium, Tripoli
Group stage8 May 20183–1
Group stage10 May 201818–0
Semi-finals11 May 20182–2
Third place match12 May 20181–0

Honours and awards

Honours

Runner-up: 2019

Third-place: 2018

Third-place: 2024

Awards

Ouday Belhaj (2017)[6]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 4 September 2020 . Focus on mini-football in Tunisia . ettachkila .
  2. Web site: 27 August 2016 . Organisation of WMF World Cup 2017 goes to Tunisia . 1 November 2024 . TAP.
  3. Web site: 2018-03-17 . Tunisie-mini-foot : Mokhtar Tlili éjecté du poste d’entraîneur de la sélection nationale . 2024-12-01 . African Manager . fr-FR.
  4. Web site: 17 June 2023 . Installation of the technical staff of the Tunisian national mini-football team . Facebook.
  5. Web site: 20 July 2024 . The composition of the technical staff of the national team . Facebook.
  6. Web site: kapitalis . webmaster . 2017-10-16 . Coupe du monde de mini-foot 2017 : Le Tunisien Ouday Belhaj meilleur joueur . 2017 MiniFootball World Cup: Tunisian Ouday Belhaj best player . 2024-12-02 . Kapitalis . fr-FR.