Tunisia national minifootball team

Last updated

Tunisia
Tunisian Minifootball Federation.png
Nickname(s) نسور قرطاج
(Eagles of Carthage)
Association TMF
Other affiliation ARMF (Arab world)
Confederation AMC (Africa)
Head coachRiadh Ben Hamdia
Kit left arm redborder.png
Kit left arm.svg
Kit body.svg
Kit right arm redborder.png
Kit right arm.svg
Kit shorts.svg
Kit socks long.svg
First colours
Kit left arm whiteborder.png
Kit left arm.svg
Kit body.svg
Kit right arm whiteborder.png
Kit right arm.svg
Kit shorts.svg
Kit socks long.svg
Second colours
First international
Flag of Tunisia.svg Tunisia 3–3 Spain  Flag of Spain.svg
(Tunis, Tunisia; 2 May 2016)
Biggest win
Flag of Tunisia.svg Tunisia 18–0 South Africa  Flag of South Africa.svg
(Tripoli, Libya; 10 May 2018)
Biggest defeat
Flag of Tunisia.svg Tunisia 0–7 Mexico  Flag of Mexico.svg
(Nabeul, Tunisia; 13 October 2017)
Flag of Tunisia.svg Tunisia 0–7 Mexico  Flag of Mexico.svg
(Perth, Australia; 8 October 2019)
WMF World Cup
Appearances2 (first in 2017 )
Best resultQuarter-finals (2017)
African Minifootball Cup
Appearances1 (first in 2018 )
Best resultThird place (2018)
WMF Continental Cup
Appearances1 (first in 2019 )
Best resultRunner-up (2019)

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.

Contents

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. [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

Last update: 1 August 2024

PositionName
Head coach Flag of Tunisia.svg Riadh Ben Hamdia
Assistant coach Flag of Tunisia.svg Ali Belmadhouna
Physiotherapist Flag of Tunisia.svg Arbi Belhadj

Managerial history

Competitive records

  Champions    Runners-up    Third place    Fourth place

WMF World Cup

WMF World Cup
YearRoundPositionPldWD*LGFGA
Flag of the United States.svg 2015 Did not enter
Flag of Tunisia.svg 2017 Quarter-finals5th53111314
Flag of Australia (converted).svg 2019 Round of 1615th412198
Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg 2023 Withdrew after qualifying [note 1]
Flag of Azerbaijan.svg 2025 Did not enter
TotalQuarter-finals2/494322222
  1. Tunisia withdrew from the 2023 WMF World Cup due to the presence of Israel. [6]

WMF Continental Cup

WMF Continental Cup
YearRoundPositionPldWD*LGFGA
Flag of Tunisia.svg 2019 Runners-up2nd4301216
TotalRunners-up1/14301216

African Minifootball Cup

African Minifootball Cup
YearRoundPositionPldWD*LGFGA
Flag of Libya.svg 2018 Third place3rd5320254
Flag of Nigeria.svg 2021 Withdrew after qualifying [note 1]
Flag of South Africa.svg 2024 Did not enter
Flag of Libya.svg 2025 Qualified
TotalThird place1/45320254
  1. Tunisia withdrew from the 2021 African Minifootball Cup due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Arab Minifootball Cup

Arab Minifootball Cup
YearRoundPositionPldWD*LGFGA
Flag of Egypt.svg 2024 Third place3rd301213
TotalThird place1/1301213

Statistics

Results in major competitions

PartYearStageDateOpponentResultVenue
WMF World Cup
1 Flag of Tunisia.svg 2017 Group stage6 October 2017Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal 3–2Nabeul Minifoot Stadium, Nabeul
9 October 2017Flag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon 6–1
11 October 2017Flag of Libya.svg  Libya 2–2
Round of 1612 October 2017Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Kazakhstan 2–2 (4–3 p)
Quarter-finals13 October 2017Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico 0–7
2 Flag of Australia (converted).svg 2019 Group stage2 October 2019Flag of Costa Rica.svg  Costa Rica 8–0Perth Minifoot Stadium, Perth
4 October 2019Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 0–0
6 October 2019Flag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia 1–1
Round of 168 October 2019Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico 0–7
WMF Continental Cup
1 Flag of Tunisia.svg 2019 Group stage14 March 2019Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland 5–1Five Stars Stadium, Tunis
15 March 2019Flag of Guatemala.svg  Guatemala 9–0
15 March 2019Flag of England.svg  England 3–0
Final16 March 2019Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic 4–5
African Minifootball Cup
1 Flag of Libya.svg 2018 Group stage6 May 2018Flag of Senegal.svg  Senegal 1–1Al-Madina Stadium, Tripoli
8 May 2018Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 3–1
10 May 2018Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 18–0
Semi-finals11 May 2018Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  Ivory Coast 2–2 (6–7 p)
Third place match12 May 2018Flag of Libya.svg  Libya 1–0
Arab Minifootball Cup
1 Flag of Egypt.svg 2024 Third place match24 February 2024Flag of Libya.svg  Libya 0–1Egyptian Association Stadium, Cairo
25 February 2024Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt 0–1
27 February 2024Flag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon 1–1

Honours and awards

Honours

Silver medal icon.svg Runner-up: 2019
Bronze medal icon.svg Third-place: 2018
Bronze medal icon.svg Third-place: 2024

Awards

Ouday Belhaj (2017) [7]

See also

References

  1. "Focus on mini-football in Tunisia". ettachkila. 4 September 2020.
  2. "Organisation of WMF World Cup 2017 goes to Tunisia". TAP. 27 August 2016. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
  3. "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.
  4. "Installation of the technical staff of the Tunisian national mini-football team". Facebook. 17 June 2023.
  5. "The composition of the technical staff of the national team". Facebook. 20 July 2024.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.