Tunisia men's national basketball team

The Tunisia men's national basketball team (Arabic: منتخب تونس لكرة السلة), nicknamed The Eagles of Carthage, represents Tunisia in international basketball. The team is governed by the Tunisia Basketball Federation (FTBB). To date, she has taken part in the regional championship the AfroBasket 23 times. In terms of the number of successful performances, it is inferior to the traditionally strong teams of Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire, and Egypt. In 2011, the Tunisian national team became the champion of Africa for the first time in its history, defeating the Angola team in the AfroBasket 2011 final. The team's previous success was silver at the home Africa Championship 1965. The team also won bronze medals in the 1970, 1974, 2009 and 2015 competitions.

Tunisia
FIBA ranking35 Increase 1 (1 March 2024)[1]
Joined FIBA1956
FIBA zoneFIBA Africa
National federationFTBB
CoachMehdy Mary
Nickname(s)نسور قرطاج (Eagles of Carthage)[2]
Olympic Games
Appearances1
MedalsNone
FIBA World Cup
Appearances2
MedalsNone
AfroBasket
Appearances23
MedalsGold Gold: (2011, 2017, 2021)
Silver Silver: (1965)
Bronze Bronze: (1970, 1974, 2009, 2015)
African Games
Appearances4
MedalsGold Gold: (1973)
Bronze Bronze: (1978)
Arab Championship
Appearances13
Medals1st place, gold medalist(s) Gold: (1981, 1983, 2008, 2009)
2nd place, silver medalist(s) Silver: (2022)
3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Bronze: (1991, 1992, 2002, 2007)
First international
 Tunisia 77–68 Morocco 
(Beirut, Lebanon; 1957)
Biggest win
 Tunisia 101–40 Chad 
(Yaoundé, Cameroon; 25 November 2017)
Biggest defeat
 Tunisia 63–110 United States 
(London, United Kingdom; 31 July 2012)

Despite fairly successful performances (the Tunisian national team never finished lower than eighth), the team was unable to repeat or even come close to the successes of the 1970s. The success of the 2009 was quite unexpected, when the team took third place at the AfroBasket 2009. Following the results of the draw, forward Amine Rzig was included in the symbolic team of the tournament, and the team in the preliminary round won 4 games with two defeats, but in three matches the Tunisian team won with a difference of two or one point. Tunisia reached the quarter-finals for the first time since 1974, where they defeated Mali by one point. And although Tunisia lost to Angola in the semi-finals, Cameroon was beaten in the bronze medal match, and the Tunisian team automatically qualified for the 2010 FIBA World Championship in Turkey. This was also the first time in the team's history that they qualified for the world championship. However, the team performed poorly at the World Cup, losing all five matches in Group B and eventually finishing in 24th place. In 2017 as co-hosts,[3] Tunisia won its second AfroBasket by beating Nigeria 77–65 in the final.[4] It retains its title in 2021 by beating Ivory Coast in the final with a score of 78–75.[5]

History

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In 2011, they won their first ever FIBA Africa Championship, after beating Angola in the final. Their previous best finish was at the FIBA Africa Championship 1965, when they won the silver medal as the host country.[6] They also won a bronze medal at the FIBA Africa Championship 1970 and FIBA Africa Championship 1974.[7][8]

Although the Tunisians never finished worse than eighth in any of their succeeding appearances, they were not able to break onto the podium again until a surprise bronze medal run at the FIBA Africa Championship 2009. Led by All-Tournament First Team forward Amine Rzig,[9] the Tunisians went 4–2 in the preliminary rounds, winning three games by two points or less. They reached the semi-finals for only the second time since 1974, by another slim margin – this time a one-point victory over Mali. Although they were defeated by Angola in the semi-finals, the Tunisians topped Cameroon in the bronze medal game, to claim Africa's third and final automatic berth in the 2010 FIBA World Championship – its first ever FIBA World Cup berth. The Tunisians struggled to compete in the World Championship, losing all five of their games, and finishing last in Group B, and 24th overall. Yet, after almost forty years of mediocrity in Africa, Tunisia has become one of the continent's prime competitors again. Its appearances at the global stage have become a new milestone in the team's history.

Honours

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Awards

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2011: Salah Mejri[10]
2021: Makram Ben Romdhane[11]
2009: Amine Rzig
2011: Marouan Kechrid, Makrem Ben Romdhane, Salah Mejri
2015: Makram Ben Romdhane (2)[12]
2017: Mourad El Mabrouk, Mohamed Hdidane[13]
2021: Omar Abada, Makram Ben Romdhane (3)[14]

Competitive record

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Tunisia vs Nigeria at the FIBA AfroBasket 2017 final.

Unlike other team sports, where Tunisia is well positioned at the regional level, the Tunisian men's basketball team has not managed to expand its list of trophies even if at the continental level it can consider among the most awarded countries. Finalist of the African championship held in home in 1965, four times third and twice fourth, Tunisia did not succeed in becoming African champion of the discipline until 2011 without however maintaining its rank since, during the following edition, it is relegated to ninth place.

At the Arab level, the prize list is more extensive with four champion titles, in 1981, 1983, 2008 and 2009, a second place and three third places. On 28 August 2011, the team won the AfroBasket for the first time after defeating Angola 67–56 in the final and qualified for the 2012 Summer Olympics.[15]

In 2017 as co-hosts,[16] Tunisia won its second AfroBasket by beating Nigeria 77–65 in the final.[17] It retains its title in 2021 by beating Ivory Coast in the final with a score of 78–75.[18] On 16 February 2022, Tunisia lost the final of the 2022 Arab Championship against Lebanon 69–72 in the United Arab Emirates.

  Champions    Runners up    Third place    Fourth place

  • Red border color indicates tournament was held on home soil.

Olympic Games

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Olympic Games
YearRoundPositionGPWL
1936Part of France
1948
1952
1956Did not qualify
1960
1964
1968
1972
1976
1980
1984
1988
1992
1996
2000
2004
2008
2012Group stage11th505
2016Did not qualify
2020
2024
TotalGroup stage1/18505

FIBA World Cup

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World Cup
YearRoundPositionGPWL
1950Part of France
1954
1959Did not qualify
1963
1967
1970
1974
1978
1982
1986
1990
1994
1998
2002
2006
2010Group stage24th505
2014Did not qualify
2019Group stage20th532
2023Did not qualify
2027To be determined
TotalGroup stage2/171037

AfroBasket

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AfroBasket
YearRoundPositionGPWL
1962Did not enter
1964Fourth place4th523
1965Runners-up2nd422
1968Did not enter
1970Third place3rd422
1972Group stage5th642
1974Third place3rd642
1975Classification stage5th505
1978Did not enter
1980
1981Classification stage6th532
1983Did not enter
1985Classification stage8th624
1987Classification stage5th422
1989Classification stage8th624
1992Classification stage7th514
1993Classification stage8th514
1995Did not enter
1997
1999Classification stage5th642
2001Fourth place4th743
2003Classification stage6th633
2005Quarter-finals8th826
2007Quarter-finals6th633
2009Third place3rd963
2011Champions1st770
2013Round of 169th541
2015Third place3rd761
2017Champions1st660
2021Champions1st660
2025To be determined
Total3 Titles23/301347658

AfroCan

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AfroCan
YearRoundPositionGPWL
2019Quarterfinals7th532
2023Quarterfinals5th541
TotalQuarterfinals2/21073

African Games

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African Games
Appearances : 3
YearPositionTournament
19651965 African Games
1973 1973 African Games
1978 1978 African Games
19911991 African Games
19951995 African Games
19991999 African Games
20032003 African Games
2007102007 African Games
20112011 African Games
20152015 African Games

Arab Championship

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Arab Championship
Appearances : 13
YearPositionTournament
1981 1981 Arab Championship
1983 1983 Arab Championship
1985Not held1985 Arab Championship
198941989 Arab Championship
1991 1991 Arab Championship
1992 1992 Arab Championship
200042000 Arab Championship
2002 2002 Arab Championship
200542005 Arab Championship
2007 2007 Arab Championship
2008 2008 Arab Championship
2009 2009 Arab Championship
201142011 Arab Championship
2022 2022 Arab Championship
2023 2023 Arab Championship

Pan Arab Games

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Pan Arab Games
Appearances : 4
YearPositionTournament
1957 1957 Pan Arab Games
1985 1985 Pan Arab Games
1992 1992 Pan Arab Games
201142011 Pan Arab Games

Mediterranean Games

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Mediterranean Games
Appearances : 5
YearPositionTournament
197571975 Mediterranean Games
198371983 Mediterranean Games
198741987 Mediterranean Games
200152001 Mediterranean Games
2013 2013 Mediterranean Games

Islamic Solidarity Games

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Islamic Solidarity Games
Appearances : 1
YearPositionTournament
200542005 Islamic Solidarity Games
2010Cancelled2010 Islamic Solidarity Games
2013Did not enter2013 Islamic Solidarity Games

Others

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FIBA Stanković Cup

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FIBA Stanković Cup
Appearances : 3
YearPositionTournament
2012 2012 Stanković Cup
2018 2018 Stanković Cup
2019 2019 Stanković Cup

King's Cup

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King Abdullah II International Cup
Appearances : 7
YearPositionTournament
2003 2003 King's Cup
2004 2004 King's Cup
2007 2007 King's Cup
2008 2008 King's Cup
2011 2011 King's Cup
2021 2021 King's Cup

Czech Republic Basketball Tournament

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Czech Republic Basketball Tournament
Appearances : 1
YearPositionTournament
2019 2019 Czech Republic Tournament

Team

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Current roster

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Roster for the 2023 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers matches on 26, 27 and 28 August 2022 against Egypt, Senegal and DR Congo.[19]

Tunisia men's national basketball team roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.NameAge – Date of birthHeightClubCtr.
G1Oussama Marnaoui23 – (1999-06-16)16 June 19991.93 m (6 ft 4 in)US Monastir
G3Achref Gannouni25 – (1997-04-16)16 April 19971.92 m (6 ft 4 in)Étoile Sportive du Sahel
PG4Omar Abada29 – (1993-04-20)20 April 19931.89 m (6 ft 2 in)Al-Ittihad Jeddah
SG5Ziyed Chennoufi23 – (1998-11-29)29 November 19982.01 m (6 ft 7 in)US Monastir
SG7Mourad El Mabrouk35 – (1986-10-19)19 October 19861.85 m (6 ft 1 in)Jalaa SC
PF9Mohamed Hadidane36 – (1986-04-27)27 April 19862.03 m (6 ft 8 in)Al Wahda
PF10Yacine Toumi21 – (2000-10-12)12 October 20002.04 m (6 ft 8 in)BWB Team 3 Men
C11Mokhtar Ghyaza35 – (1986-11-15)15 November 19862.04 m (6 ft 8 in)US Monastir
PF12Makrem Ben Romdhane33 – (1989-03-27)27 March 19892.04 m (6 ft 8 in)Benfica
SG20Michael Roll35 – (1987-04-12)12 April 19871.95 m (6 ft 5 in)Pınar Karşıyaka
PF23Firas Lahiani31 – (1991-07-16)16 July 19912.04 m (6 ft 8 in)Smouha SC
C50Salah Mejri36 – (1986-06-15)15 June 19862.17 m (7 ft 1 in)Al-Jahra SC
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • Club – describes last
    club before the competition
  • Age – describes age
    on 24 August 2021

Depth chart

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Salah Mejri is the country's most recognized player
Michael Roll is a starter on the team
Pos.Starting 5Bench 1Bench 2
CSalah MejriMokhtar Ghyaza
PFMakram Ben RomdhaneFiras LahianiYacine Toumi
SFMichael RollZiyed ChennoufiMohamed Hadidane
SGMourad El MabroukOussama Marnaoui
PGOmar AbadaAchref Gannouni

All Time Head coaches

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PeriodHead Coach
1957–1959 Hammadi Driss
1960–1961 Griffith
1961–1962 Borhane Errais
1962–1963 Miodrag Stefanović
1963–1965 Borhane Errais
1965–1966 Valensky
1966–1967 Faherty
1967–1968 Katarinsky
1968–1971 Igor Tocigl
1971 Václav Krása
1971–1972 Bill Sweek
1972–1978 Mohamed Senoussi
PeriodHead Coach
1978–1979 Khaled Senoussi
1979–1981 Mohamed Senoussi
1981 Khaled Senoussi
1982–1983 Mohamed Zaouali
1983–1987 Youri Velligoura
1988–1990 Ridha Laabidi
1990–1991 Mohamed Senoussi
1991–1992 Khaled Senoussi
1992–1994 Mohamed Zaouali
1994–1996 Igor Tocigl
1997–1998 Juan Manuel Monsalve
1998–1999 Mustapha Bouchenak
PeriodHead Coach
1999–2000 Zoran Zupecevic
2000–2001 Francis Jordane &
Mounir Ben Sliman
2001–2002 Adel Tlatli
2002–2003 Marijan Novović
2004 Walid Gharbi
2004–2016 Adel Tlatli
2016–2020 Mário Palma
2020–2022 Dirk Bauermann
2022–2023 Erman Kunter
2023 Mário Palma
2023–present Mehdy Mary

Manufacturer

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2015 – Nike[20]

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2015 – Tunisie Telecom[20]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "FIBA Ranking Presented by Nike". FIBA. 1 March 2024. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  2. ^ "Omnisports – Basketball : Le Nigéria toujours " Number One " en Afrique". AfricaFootUnited.com (in French). 3 March 2021. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  3. ^ "Tunisia and Senegal to co-host FIBA AfroBasket 2017". FIBA. 1 July 2017. Archived from the original on 8 September 2017. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  4. ^ "Tunisia crowned FIBA AfroBasket 2017 Champions". fiba.basketball. 16 September 2017. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  5. ^ "Mejri and Roll spark Tunisia to FIBA AfroBasket 2021 title". FIBA. 5 September 2021.
  6. ^ 1965 African Championship at FIBA archive
  7. ^ 1970 African Championship at FIBA Archive
  8. ^ 1974 African Championship at FIBA.com
  9. ^ LBA – Gomes Leads All-Star Team
  10. ^ "Mavericks sign 7-2 Tunisian center Salah Mejri". ESPN.com. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
  11. ^ "MVP Ben Romdhane headlines FIBA AfroBasket 2021 All-Star team". FIBA.basketball. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
  12. ^ "Oguchi named MVP of AfroBasket 2015, headlines All-Star Five". FIBA. 30 August 2015. Archived from the original on 2 September 2015. Retrieved 30 August 2015.
  13. ^ "Dieng and Diogu headline All-Star Five at FIBA AfroBasket 2017". FIBA. 16 September 2017. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  14. ^ "MVP Ben Romdhane headlines FIBA AfroBasket 2021 All-Star team". FIBA. 5 September 2021. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
  15. ^ "26th Afrobasket: Tunisia is Africa of the court, bag olympic ticket". fiba.com. 28 August 2011. Archived from the original on 7 October 2011. Retrieved 28 August 2011.
  16. ^ "Tunisia and Senegal to co-host FIBA AfroBasket 2017". FIBA. 1 July 2017. Archived from the original on 8 September 2017. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  17. ^ "Tunisia crowned FIBA AfroBasket 2017 Champions". fiba.basketball. 16 September 2017. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  18. ^ "Mejri and Roll spark Tunisia to FIBA AfroBasket 2021 title". FIBA. 5 September 2021.
  19. ^ "Tunisia during the 2023 FIBA World Cup African Qualifiers in August 2022". Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  20. ^ a b 2015 FIBA Africa Championship – Tunisia, FIBA.com. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
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