World Cup 2022 – Tunisia's Jalel Kadri: from the shadows to the hot seat

The former Stade Tunisien and CA Bizertin coach will remember Sunday 23 January 2022 for a long time, in the land of the Indomitable Lions. It was the day that all but put him in charge of the national team. With head coach Mondher Kebaier sidelined with Covid-19, Jalel Kadri, then assistant coach, took charge on an interim basis. Even at his pre-match press conference, with disarming calm, he had warned a Nigerian journalist who had shown little respect for a Tunisia side missing 9 players who had tested positive for Covid-19. "In the group stage, the Nigerians were quite good. I repeat that Tunisia respects every team but we do not fear Nigeria", Kadri had said.

World Cup 2022: the full schedule

He was on the bench determined to make a statement against Nigeria's Super Eagles in the Africa Cup of Nations round of 16. Even though Augustine Eguavoen's side were heavy favourites, Kadri was convinced he could cause them an upset. With a tactically disciplined team that worked tirelessly, Tunisia knocked Nigeria out 1-0 in front of thousands of fans who had crossed the Cameroonian border. The result was such that the media began talking again about "the Italy of Africa". Even those who had been highly sceptical before the match did a U-turn and praised his tactical brilliance.

"Jalel Kadri is a very good coach"

When head coach Mondher Kebaier returned to his duties, rather than keep the same style of play, he fielded a Tunisia side that pushed forward and dominated possession against Burkina Faso in the quarter-finals. Kamou Malo's men punished Tunisia on the counter-attack. Kebaier was singled out as the main culprit for the early exit. The FTF did not have to look far for a replacement, even though some supporters wanted a foreign coach. So the pragmatic Jalel Kadri was appointed manager of the Carthage Eagles on 30 January, with the aim of qualifying his country for the World Cup. He signed a two-year deal. With the same ingredients used against Nigeria, Tunisia won the two-legged World Cup play-off against Mali without conceding (1-0 in the first leg and 0-0 in the second). While his new assistants Selim Benachour and Ali Boumnijel celebrated with the players after qualification for the World Cup, Kadri, master of his emotions and remarkably cool-headed, held back his smiles. Sometimes criticised over the quality of the football, never rattled, and well pleased with a job done.

Nabil Maaloul, Tunisia's head coach at the 2018 World Cup, praised Jalel Kadri and backed him after the ticket to Qatar 2022 was secured. "I am very confident about the national team. There is a very good coach with a good technical staff at the helm. That bodes well for the team. We are going to have a great World Cup," the Espérance de Tunis coach told Sport News Africa.

Hope of finally getting out of the group stage with Kadri

Since the Tozeur native took charge of the national team, Tunisia have recorded 5 wins, 2 draws and just 1 defeat, 5-1 against Brazil, regarded as the big favourites for this 2022 World Cup. Under Jalel Kadri, the Carthage Eagles have scored 12 goals. The 5 goals conceded came against the Brazilians, at the Parc des Princes, in a friendly. Despite that defeat, the team did not disgrace themselves. Besides, last June, Tunisia had passed their first tests at the Kirin Cup in Osaka. They showed their quality by beating Chile 2-0 and giving the Japanese a tactical lesson, winning 3-0 in front of their home crowd. Their defensive solidity and attacking efficiency were praised everywhere. Soon afterwards, FTF president Wadie Jary reiterated his support for coach Jalel Kadri. The head of Tunisian football had dismissed the Laurent Blanc rumour.

Now, Carthage Eagles fans want to see their team get out of the group stage for the first time at a World Cup. With Kadri in charge, Tunisia will certainly play without any inferiority complex, whoever the opposition. In a group that includes a France side not at their best and without their top midfielders (Pogba and Kanté), plus Australia and Denmark, the Tunisians are dreaming of a shock in their 6th appearance at the world's most prestigious football competition. With Jalel Kadri's tactical brilliance, rigour and luck, and the players' determination, Tunisia are well placed to pull off a feat. The former JS Kairouan coach would go down in Tunisian and world football history. In the meantime, the former coach of Al Ahly Tripoli and Emirat Club in Saudi Arabia announces his official squad this Monday 14 November. After his provisional list of 16 players from the local league, Egypt and the Middle East, no major surprises are expected.

Ablaye DIALLO