# Tunisia national minifootball team

The Tunisia national minifootball team represents Tunisia in men's international Minifootball competitions and it is controlled by the Tunisian Minifootball Federation (FTMF), 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, the African Minifootball Confederation founder and World Minifootball Federation vice president. Tunisia played their first match against Spain on 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 video assistant referee, establishment of training sessions for minifootball coaches, and organization of the first ladies minifootball championship 2019–20 season.
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. 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 and 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
| Position | Name |
| Head coach | Riadh Ben Hamdia |
| Assistant coach | Ali Belmadhouna |
| Physiotherapist | Arbi Belhadj |

### Managerial history

* Mokhtar Tlili (2016–2018)
* Sofyen Brinis (2018–2020)
* Mahdi Abachi (2023–2024)
* Riadh Ben Hmida (2024–present)

## Competitive records

Champions Runners-up Third place Fourth place
* Red border color indicates tournament was held on home soil.

### WMF World Cup

WMF World Cup :
| Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA |
| 2015 | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | 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 | Withdrew after qualifying | Withdrew after qualifying | Withdrew after qualifying | Withdrew after qualifying | Withdrew after qualifying | Withdrew after qualifying | Withdrew after qualifying | Withdrew after qualifying |
| 2025 | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter |
| Total | Quarter-finals | 2/4 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 22 | 22 |
* ↑ Tunisia withdrew from the 2023 WMF World Cup due to the presence of Israel.

### WMF Continental Cup

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

African Minifootball Cup :
| Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA |
| 2018 | Third place | 3rd | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 25 | 4 |
| 2021 | Withdrew after qualifying | Withdrew after qualifying | Withdrew after qualifying | Withdrew after qualifying | Withdrew after qualifying | Withdrew after qualifying | Withdrew after qualifying | Withdrew after qualifying |
| 2024 | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter |
| 2025 | Qualified | Qualified | Qualified | Qualified | Qualified | Qualified | Qualified | Qualified |
| Total | Third place | 1/4 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 25 | 4 |
* ↑ Tunisia withdrew from the 2021 African Minifootball Cup due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

### Arab Minifootball Cup

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
### Results in major compititions

| Part | Year | Stage | Date | Opponent | Result | Venue |
| WMF World Cup |||||||
| 1 | 2017 | Group stage | 6 October 2017 | Portugal | 3–2 | Nabeul Minifoot Stadium, Nabeul |
| 1 | 2017 | Group stage | 9 October 2017 | Lebanon | 6–1 | Nabeul Minifoot Stadium, Nabeul |
| 1 | 2017 | Group stage | 11 October 2017 | Libya | 2–2 | Nabeul Minifoot Stadium, Nabeul |
| 1 | 2017 | Round of 16 | 12 October 2017 | Kazakhstan | 2–2 (4–3 p) | Nabeul Minifoot Stadium, Nabeul |
| 1 | 2017 | Quarter-finals | 13 October 2017 | Mexico | 0–7 | Nabeul Minifoot Stadium, Nabeul |
| 2 | 2019 | Group stage | 2 October 2019 | Costa Rica | 8–0 | Perth Minifoot Stadium, Perth |
| 2 | 2019 | Group stage | 4 October 2019 | Japan | 0–0 | Perth Minifoot Stadium, Perth |
| 2 | 2019 | Group stage | 6 October 2019 | Slovakia | 1–1 | Perth Minifoot Stadium, Perth |
| 2 | 2019 | Round of 16 | 8 October 2019 | Mexico | 0–7 | Perth Minifoot Stadium, Perth |
| WMF Continental Cup |||||||
| 1 | 2019 | Group stage | 14 March 2019 | Switzerland | 5–1 | Five Stars Stadium, Tunis |
| 1 | 2019 | Group stage | 15 March 2019 | Guatemala | 9–0 | Five Stars Stadium, Tunis |
| 1 | 2019 | Group stage | 15 March 2019 | England | 3–0 | Five Stars Stadium, Tunis |
| 1 | 2019 | Final | 16 March 2019 | Czech Republic | 4–5 | Five Stars Stadium, Tunis |
| African Minifootball Cup |||||||
| 1 | 2018 | Group stage | 6 May 2018 | Senegal | 1–1 | Al-Madina Stadium, Tripoli |
| 1 | 2018 | Group stage | 8 May 2018 | Nigeria | 3–1 | Al-Madina Stadium, Tripoli |
| 1 | 2018 | Group stage | 10 May 2018 | South Africa | 18–0 | Al-Madina Stadium, Tripoli |
| 1 | 2018 | Semi-finals | 11 May 2018 | Ivory Coast | 2–2 (6–7 p) | Al-Madina Stadium, Tripoli |
| 1 | 2018 | Third place match | 12 May 2018 | Libya | 1–0 | Al-Madina Stadium, Tripoli |
| Arab Minifootball Cup |||||||
| 1 | 2024 | Third place match | 24 February 2024 | Libya | 0–1 | Egyptian Association Stadium, Cairo |
| 1 | 2024 | Third place match | 25 February 2024 | Egypt | 0–1 | Egyptian Association Stadium, Cairo |
| 1 | 2024 | Third place match | 27 February 2024 | Lebanon | 1–1 | Egyptian Association Stadium, Cairo |

## Honours and awards
### Honours

* WMF Continental Cup
    Runner-up: 2019
* African Minifootball Cup
    Third-place: 2018
* Arab Minifootball Cup
    Third-place: 2024

### Awards

* WMF World Cup Best player
    Ouday Belhaj (2017)