The Tunisian national football team is set to face Libya on November 12, 2026, at the Taieb Mhiri stadium in Sfax, seeking their first win in the CAN 2027 qualifiers. The match is part of the third jornada of Group H, and Tunisia must secure a victory before the return match in Tripoli on November 17. The team has not played an official match at the Taieb Mhiri stadium in 31 years, with their last encounter being against Liberia in 1995.
Tunisia has a historical advantage over Libya, having won 17 out of 25 previous encounters, with 6 Libyan victories. The Tunisian team, led by coach Mouine Chaabani, has won six consecutive matches against Libya, including a recent 0-1 win in Benghazi during the CAN "Côte d'Ivoire 2024" qualifiers. A win would help Tunisia recover from a slow start to the campaign, which saw them draw 1-1 with Uganda and 2-2 with Botswana in the first two jornadas.
Coach Chaabani has made several changes to the team roster, dropping players like Amine Cherni, Yan Valery, and Moataz Naffeti, and calling up new players like goalkeeper Béchir Ben Said, and midfielder Moez Zemzemi. The team will rely on experienced players like Ferjani Sassi and Aissa Laidouni to control the midfield, and Ismail Gharbi to animate the offense. The attack will look to players like Khalil Ayari, Raki Laaouani, and Firas Chaouat to score goals.
The match will be played in front of a sold-out crowd, with all tickets sold out. The Tunisian team will look to capitalize on their home advantage and secure a crucial win. Libya, led by coach Youssef Dabo, will be reinforced by players with experience in Tunisian football, including Ali Youssef, Oussama Chrimi, and Hamdou Elhouni.
A win for Tunisia would help them stay in contention for a spot in the CAN 2027 finals, which will be hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. The team has participated in every CAN finals since 1994, and will look to continue that streak. The match will be a crucial test for the Tunisian team, who will need to overcome their opponents to achieve their goal.
The Libyan team will look to cause an upset and secure a positive result, which would keep their qualification hopes alive. The match will be a challenging encounter for both teams, and the outcome will have a significant impact on their chances of advancing to the CAN 2027 finals.
The teams' lineups will be crucial in determining the outcome of the match. Tunisia's likely starting lineup will include Béchir Ben Said or Aymen Dahmene in goal, a defense featuring Montassar Talbi and Adem Arous, and a midfield controlled by Ferjani Sassi and Aissa Laidouni. The attack will be led by players like Khalil Ayari, Raki Laaouani, and Firas Chaouat.
Key points
- Tunisia seeks first win in CAN 2027 qualifiers against Libya.
