For Sabri Lamouchi’s debut on the bench of the Tunisia national football team, Tunisia secured a 1–0 victory over Haiti national football team at BMO Field in a mixed performance.
Dominant and convincing in the first half, the Tunisian side struggled after the break but held on thanks to defensive resilience.
A controlled first half
From kickoff, Tunisia imposed their rhythm in a 4-3-3 setup against Haiti’s 4-2-3-1. Backed by a supportive crowd, teammates of Ellyes Skhiri quickly took control and pinned Haiti in their own half.
The breakthrough came in the 7th minute: perfectly played through by Ismaël Gharbi, Sébastien Tounekti calmly beat Alexandre Pierre to score his first international goal. The winger remained a threat shortly after but failed to double the lead.
Despite a Haitian attempt from Danley Jean Jacques, well saved by Sabri Ben Hassen, and a disallowed goal for offside, Tunisia largely controlled the half. Only a missed shot from Jean-Ricner Bellegarde slightly disrupted an otherwise solid opening period.
A more difficult second half
After halftime, Haiti raised their intensity. Energized by substitutions, they showed a more attacking approach, notably through Josué Casimir, who was very active on the left flank. Pressure gradually mounted on a less composed Tunisian defense.
However, Tunisia had the best chance to extend their lead when Hazem Mastouri, coming off the bench, was denied by Alexandre Pierre in the 62nd minute. That moment proved pivotal, as Tunisia dropped deeper afterward.
A tense finish
In the final minutes, Haiti pushed hard for an equalizer. Chances increased but failed to beat the alert Sabri Ben Hassen.
The closest moment came in stoppage time when Duckens Nazon hit the post with a header. Shortly after, Wilson Isidor missed the target, before Danley Jean Jacques was sent off, ending Haiti’s hopes.
Solid but at times under pressure, Tunisia ultimately secured a narrow yet valuable 1–0 win—an encouraging start ahead of preparations for the 2026 World Cup, with both positives and areas to improve for Sabri Lamouchi.
