Tunisia are reportedly nearing the appointment of experienced French coach Hervé Renard as their new head coach following the dismissal of Sabri Lamouchi in the aftermath of the Eagles of Carthage’s heavy defeat to Sweden at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The North African side suffered a damaging 5-1 loss in their opening Group F encounter, prompting the Tunisian Football Federation to act swiftly in a bid to revive the team’s hopes of progressing to the knockout stage.
According to French journalist Romain Molina, Renard is expected to take charge of Tunisia unless there is a dramatic late change in negotiations.
The federation is believed to have offered the French tactician a long-term sporting project that extends beyond the current World Cup, with plans aimed at convincing him to continue leading the national team after the tournament concludes.
If the agreement is finalised, Renard would become one of the few coaches to lead three different nations at the FIFA World Cup.
The 56-year-old previously managed Morocco at the 2018 World Cup in Russia and later guided Saudi Arabia at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where he masterminded a famous 2-1 victory over eventual champions Argentina in the group stage.
Renard had initially been expected to lead Saudi Arabia into the 2026 World Cup but was dismissed less than two months before the tournament, paving the way for Greek coach Giorgos Donis to take charge.
Tunisia now face a difficult challenge after their poor start to the competition, with crucial matches against Japan and the Netherlands remaining in the group stage.
The Tunisian Football Federation hopes that Renard’s extensive international experience and proven success in African football can provide the spark needed to rescue their campaign.
Renard is widely regarded as one of the continent’s most accomplished foreign coaches, having won the Africa Cup of Nations with Zambia in 2012 and Ivory Coast in 2015.
Should his appointment be confirmed, Tunisia would gain a coach with significant experience in handling pressure at major tournaments as they attempt to turn their World Cup fortunes around.
