Tunisia coach Jalel Kadri steps down after Bafana Bafana draw

The Eagles of Carthage needed a win in their third Group E match against South Africa on Wednesday to progress to the last 16 but were ultimately held to a goalless draw.

They ended bottom of their group, having started their campaign with a shock 1-0 defeat to Namibia, before an improved 1-1 draw with leaders Mali.

However, with the pressure to collect all three points against Bafana, the 2004 continental champions again failed to find the back of the net and ultimately succumbed to their worst AFCON showing since 2002.

He joins the coaches of hosts Ivory Coast, Ghana and Algeria to leave their posts on Wednesday.

Kadri announced his decision immediately after the midweek game, telling the media in Korhogo: “This is my decision, which is in my contract.

“My contract included a mandate to reach the semi-finals and, because we haven’t made that, the contract is terminated.”

The 52-year-old, who took over after Tunisia’s 2021 quarter-final exit in Cameroon two years ago, accepted responsibility for their failed campaign.

“The defeat against Namibia in the first match affected us psychologically, and we shouldn’t have lost. We improved against Mali, and against South Africa, but we were not efficient in attack,” he concluded.