Tunisia Fires Lamouchi Ahead of 2026 World Cup: Has a Super Eagles Coach Ever Been Dismissed Mid‑Tournament?

Tunisia has made an unlikely mark on World Cup history by dismissing head coach Sabri Lamouchi just days into the 2026 FIFA World Cup, according to Afrik‑Foot.

While Morocco has had a positive impact in North America, Tunisia has entered the record books for a less flattering reason.

The Tunisian Football Federation announced on Monday night that Lamouchi had been relieved of his duties after the Eagles of Carthage suffered a 5‑1 defeat to Sweden in their opening Group F match in Monterrey, Mexico. The result left Tunisia at the bottom of the group and made Lamouchi the first coach in World Cup history to lose his job after only one match at the tournament.

Warnings had surfaced before the World Cup. Tunisia were beaten 5‑0 by Belgium in a friendly earlier in June, raising concerns about the team’s defensive organisation. Reports from within the camp also pointed to disagreements between Lamouchi, federation officials and some senior players over squad selection.

Sabri Lamouchi, first coach to be dismissed at the 2026 World Cup. Copyright: xMontassarxYazidi/PRESSExSPORTSxIMAGO

Lamouchi was appointed in January 2026 to replace Sami Trabelsi, the former France international. He spent just five months in charge, overseeing five matches that yielded one victory, one draw and three defeats before his dismissal.

Tunisia has moved quickly to appoint experienced French coach Hervé Renard for the remainder of the tournament.

World Cup: Has Nigeria ever sacked a Super Eagles coach during a major tournament?

Despite the Nigeria Football Federation’s reputation for frequent coaching changes, the Super Eagles have never dismissed a senior national team coach in the middle of a major tournament such as the FIFA World Cup or Africa Cup of Nations.

Nigeria’s most notable coaching exits have usually occurred either immediately after elimination or shortly before a tournament begins.

Shaibu Amodu experienced this twice with the Super Eagles, one of the most successful African teams in World Cup history. After Nigeria finished third at the 2002 AFCON in Mali, he was dismissed shortly after the competition ended. Eight years later, he guided the Eagles to another AFCON bronze medal in Angola but was again removed before the World Cup in South Africa.

Former Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr. Copyright: xloulidiphotoxIMAGO

In December 2021, Gernot Rohr was sacked only weeks before the delayed 2021 AFCON in Cameroon, with Augustine Eguavoen taking charge for the tournament. Eguavoen himself left his role after Nigeria failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup following a playoff defeat to Ghana.

Even at youth level, Nigeria has generally waited until a competition ends before making changes. Manu Garba’s departure from the Golden Eaglets in 2019 came after the team’s elimination from the FIFA U‑17 World Cup, not while the tournament was still ongoing.

The closest Nigeria have come to a rapid coaching change in recent years was Finidi George’s 47‑day spell in 2024. However, the former Ajax winger’s resignation followed poor World Cup qualifying results and occurred outside a major tournament.

While coaching instability has often been part of Nigerian football, Tunisia’s decision to remove Lamouchi after a single World Cup match remains a step the Super Eagles have never taken.

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Imhonlamhen

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Eronmhonsele Imhonlamhen is a sports writer covering Nigeria, with 10+ years in sports media and a Reuters Digital Journalism certification. A bettor for over 15 years, he specialises in football odds and responsible gambling, and has used operators including Bet9ja, SportyBet, Nairabet and BetKing.