Tunisia's premature exit from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations continues to cause a stir. Eliminated by Mali in the round of 16 after a cruel turn of events, the Eagles of Carthage saw one of their key players, Hannibal Mejbri, deliver a scathing critique of Tunisian football.

Everything seemed to be going Tunisia's way in the final moments of Saturday night's match. In the 88th minute, Firas Chaouat sent the Tunisian bench into raptures by opening the scoring with a well-placed header. This advantage was all the more precious as Mali had been playing with ten men for over an hour. The quarter-finals then seemed within reach.

But football sometimes delivers unforgiving outcomes. In stoppage time, a handball by Meriah in the box gave Mali's Eagles a penalty. Lassine Sinayoko converted the spot-kick, snatching an equalizer (1-1). Extra time, uneventful as it was, changed nothing. In the penalty shootout, Mali showed greater composure, led by an imperious Djigui Diarra in goal.

This early elimination understandably left a bitter taste in the Tunisian camp. "The defeat hurts a lot. We were very close to qualifying but we couldn't finish it off," admitted coach Sami Trabelsi, already heavily criticized, after the match.

 

Mejbri denounces a profound structural delay

While the frustration was widespread, it was expressed with unusual vehemence by Hannibal Mejbri. The 22-year-old Tunisian international, one of the few players to have lived up to expectations in this tournament, didn't mince words in the mixed zone.

“We’re behind in football, and we have to say it. We’re behind on many things. All those in charge need to sit down together and ask the tough questions, because the situation is serious,” declared the visibly affected midfielder. Aware that he lives and plays outside of Tunisia, Mejbri nevertheless felt he couldn’t remain silent: “It pains me to talk about it, but it’s sad to see where we are.”

The Burnley player went further, calling for a complete overhaul. "We need to start from scratch. There's talent in Tunisia, but we're not progressing. While countries like Algeria and Morocco are advancing, we're stagnating. The problem is also mental: we dream too much and don't work hard enough. Learning isn't something to be ashamed of, quite the opposite."

A powerful speech from the former Manchester United player that is already resonating widely on social media and in Tunisian public opinion. Beyond the elimination, Hannibal Mejbri's words raise a central question: will Tunisia be able to transform this disappointment into a real wake-up call for its football?