Tunisia national minifootball team
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| Nickname(s) | نسور قرطاج (Eagles of Carthage) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Association | TMF | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other affiliation | ARMF (Arab world) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Confederation | AMC (Africa) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Head coach | Riadh Ben Hamdia | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| First international | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Tunisia 3–3 Spain  (Tunis, Tunisia; 2 May 2016) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Biggest win | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tunisia 18–0 South Africa  (Tripoli, Libya; 10 May 2018) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Biggest defeat | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tunisia 0–7 Mexico  (Nabeul, Tunisia; 13 October 2017) Tunisia 0–7 Mexico (Perth, Australia; 8 October 2019) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| WMF World Cup | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Appearances | 2 (first in 2017) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Best result | Quarter-finals (2017) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| African Minifootball Cup | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Appearances | 1 (first in 2018) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Best result | Third place (2018) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| WMF Continental Cup | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Appearances | 1 (first in 2019) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Best result | Runner-up (2019) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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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
[edit]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.[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 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
[edit]Last update: 1 August 2024
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Riadh Ben Hamdia
|
| Assistant coach | Ali Belmadhouna
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| Physiotherapist | Arbi Belhadj
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Managerial history
[edit]
Mokhtar Tlili (2016–2018)[3]- Sofyen Brinis (2018–2020)
- Mahdi Abachi (2023–2024)[4]
- Riadh Ben Hmida (2024–present)[5]
Competitive records
[edit]Champions Runners-up Third place Fourth place
- Red border color indicates tournament was held on home soil.
WMF World Cup
[edit]| WMF World Cup | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA |
 2015 |
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[note 1] | |||||||
 2025
|
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.[6]
WMF Continental Cup
[edit]| 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
[edit]| 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[note 1] | |||||||
| 2024
|
Did not enter | |||||||
| 2025
|
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
[edit]| 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
[edit]Results in major compititions
[edit]| Part | Year | Stage | Date | Opponent | Result | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WMF World Cup | ||||||
| 1 | 2017
|
Group stage | 6 October 2017 |  Portugal
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3–2 | Nabeul Minifoot Stadium, Nabeul |
| 9 October 2017 |  Lebanon
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6–1 | ||||
| 11 October 2017 | Libya
|
2–2 | ||||
| Round of 16 | 12 October 2017 |  Kazakhstan
|
2–2 (4–3 p) | |||
| Quarter-finals | 13 October 2017 | Mexico
|
0–7 | |||
| 2 | 2019
|
Group stage | 2 October 2019 |  Costa Rica
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8–0 | Perth Minifoot Stadium, Perth |
| 4 October 2019 |  Japan
|
0–0 | ||||
| 6 October 2019 |  Slovakia
|
1–1 | ||||
| Round of 16 | 8 October 2019 | Mexico
|
0–7 | |||
| WMF Continental Cup | ||||||
| 1 | 2019
|
Group stage | 14 March 2019 |  Switzerland
|
5–1 | Five Stars Stadium, Tunis |
| 15 March 2019 |  Guatemala
|
9–0 | ||||
| 15 March 2019 |  England
|
3–0 | ||||
| Final | 16 March 2019 |  Czech Republic
|
4–5 | |||
| African Minifootball Cup | ||||||
| 1 | 2018
|
Group stage | 6 May 2018 |  Senegal
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1–1 | Al-Madina Stadium, Tripoli |
| 8 May 2018 | Nigeria
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3–1 | ||||
| 10 May 2018 | South Africa
|
18–0 | ||||
| Semi-finals | 11 May 2018 |  Ivory Coast
|
2–2 (6–7 p) | |||
| Third place match | 12 May 2018 | Libya
|
1–0 | |||
| Arab Minifootball Cup | ||||||
| 1 | 2024
|
Third place match | 24 February 2024 | Libya
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0–1 | Egyptian Association Stadium, Cairo |
| 25 February 2024 | Egypt
|
0–1 | ||||
| 27 February 2024 | Lebanon
|
1–1 | ||||
Honours and awards
[edit]Honours
[edit]
Runner-up: 2019
Third-place: 2018
- Third-place: 2024
Awards
[edit]- WMF World Cup Best player
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Focus on mini-football in Tunisia". ettachkila. 4 September 2020.
- ^ "Organisation of WMF World Cup 2017 goes to Tunisia". TAP. 27 August 2016. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
- ^ "Tunisie-mini-foot : Mokhtar Tlili éjecté du poste d'entraîneur de la sélection nationale". African Manager (in French). 17 March 2018. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
- ^ "Installation of the technical staff of the Tunisian national mini-football team". Facebook. 17 June 2023.
- ^ "The composition of the technical staff of the national team". Facebook. 20 July 2024.
- ^ بنخليفة, حمزة (11 August 2023). "الكشف عن سبب انسحاب المنتخب الوطني لكرة القدم المصغرة من المشاركة في بطولة العالم" [Revealing the reason for the withdrawal of the national mini-football team from participation in the World Championship]. تونس - أخبار تونس (in Arabic). Retrieved 23 December 2024.
- ^ kapitalis, webmaster (16 October 2017). "Coupe du monde de mini-foot 2017 : Le Tunisien Ouday Belhaj meilleur joueur" [2017 MiniFootball World Cup: Tunisian Ouday Belhaj best player]. Kapitalis (in French). Retrieved 2 December 2024.
External links
[edit]
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