Tunisia v Libya moves to Tripoli on Tuesday with Tunisia bottom of Group H in the AFCON 2027 qualifiers, after a 2-0 home defeat by Libya in Sfax on Friday left them on two points from three matches.
Only one team besides the co-hosts Uganda can qualify from the group, so a second defeat would leave Tunisia needing results elsewhere with two games left. The coach, Mouine Chaabani, has apologised to supporters and said the defeat was deserved.
What happened in the first Tunisia v Libya match?
Libya scored once in each half of Tunisia v Libya in Sfax. A penalty in the 44th minute gave them the lead and Hamdou Elhouni added the second after the hour, according to the Tunisian daily La Presse and Sport News Africa. Outlets give different names for the penalty taker.
It was Libya’s first win of the campaign. Tunisia had drawn their first two matches, 1-1 with Uganda and 2-2 with Botswana.
Chaabani took “full responsibility” for the result, La Presse reported. “We were not up to their expectations,” he said of the fans, in remarks reported in French. He declined to blame the referee and said his team’s performance did not merit a better result.
Why is Tunisia v Libya so important for Group H?
Uganda will co-host the finals with Kenya and Tanzania and qualify automatically, which leaves one place for the other three teams in the group. After Uganda’s 1-1 draw with Botswana on Saturday, Uganda have five points, Libya four, Botswana three and Tunisia two, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) said.
Before Tunisia v Libya in Tripoli, that means Tunisia trail Libya by two points and Botswana by one in the race for the single place. A Libyan win on Tuesday would open a five-point gap with two matches to play, while a Tunisian win would put them a point ahead of Libya. Botswana host Uganda on the same day.
The return match is scheduled for 17:00 local time at the Tripoli International Stadium and will be played behind closed doors, according to Foot Africa and the Tunisian site African Manager. Libya are coached by Youssoupha Dabo.
How did Tunisia reach this point?
The defeat extended a run of nine matches without a win, three draws and six defeats, the French daily Ouest-France reported. That run includes the 2026 World Cup, where Tunisia lost all three group matches, the paper said.
Chaabani, a former Esperance de Tunis coach who won the CAF Champions League in 2018 and 2019, was appointed in July to replace Herve Renard, who had taken over during the World Cup. The Tunisian Football Federation (FTF) gave him a contract running to the 2030 World Cup, the Tunisian site Business News reported.
At his press conference after Friday’s match, Chaabani was quoted by Ouest-France as saying that “this team will not succeed, even with Guardiola, given the current mentality”. The FTF had not commented on his position by Saturday evening. Some Tunisian outlets, including Tunisie-Tribune, called for the federation’s leadership to step down.
What comes next after Tunisia v Libya?
The last two rounds of Group H are due in March 2027. The finals take place in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda from 19 June to 17 July 2027. Saturday’s other results are in our report on Algeria v Togo, and Friday’s are in our round-up of Friday’s qualifiers.
FAQ
When is the Tunisia v Libya return match?
It is scheduled for Tuesday 17 November at 17:00 local time at the Tripoli International Stadium, behind closed doors, according to Foot Africa.
What was the score in the first Tunisia v Libya game?
Libya won 2-0 in Sfax on 13 November, with a first-half penalty and a second-half goal from Hamdou Elhouni.
How many teams qualify from Group H?
One, in addition to Uganda, who qualify automatically as co-hosts. Libya hold that place with four points, ahead of Botswana on three and Tunisia on two.
Who is Tunisia’s coach?
Mouine Chaabani, appointed in July 2026 to succeed Herve Renard.
