Tunisia has participated in the Africa Cup of Nations 22 times, and holds the record for the number of consecutive participations with 17, as the team has not been absent from the competition since the 1994 edition on its home soil. The first participation was in the 1962 edition in Ethiopia. Tunisia played their first match on 14 January 1962 and lost to the host country team 2–4 in the semi-final. However, Tunisia beat Uganda 3–0 in the third place match to win the bronze medal. Tunisia hosted the event for the first time during the 1965 edition, where the team reached the final and lost to the defending champions Ghana 0–2 after extra time to add the silver medal.

In the next two decades, the team participated only twice, finishing fourth in the 1978 edition in Ghana and being eliminated from the group stage in the 1982 edition in Libya. After failing to qualify for the next five editions, the team returned to the competition, hosting the 1994 edition and achieving the worst participation in its history and on home soil after losing to Mali 0–2 and drawing against Zaire 1–1, eliminating it from the group stage. In the 1996 edition, led by Polish coach Henryk Kasperczak, the team reached the final, but lost to hosts South Africa 0–2. Eight years later, in the 2004 edition hosted by Tunisia for the third time, the team won the title for the first time in its history, led by the French coach Roger Lemerre with a respectable generation of players, after defeating Senegal in the quarter-finals and Nigeria in the semi-finals, and defeated Morocco in the final match 2–1.

Since then, the team has not achieved noticeable results, as it was eliminated from the group stage in 2010, 2013 and 2023, exited from the round of 16 in 2025, eliminated from the quarter-finals in 2006, 2008, 2012, 2015, 2017 and 2021, and achieved fourth place in 2019. In total, Tunisia have participated in the African Cup of Nations 22 times, playing 87 matches, with 26 wins, 32 draws and 29 losses, scoring 106 goals and conceding 103. The nation's biggest victories at the tournament were 4–0 wins against Ethiopia on 12 November 1965 and against Mauritania on 16 January 2022. Tunisia's biggest defeats were 3–0 losses against Cameroon on 10 February 2000, against Guinea on 30 January 2006, and against the Ivory Coast on 26 January 2013. Francileudo Santos is the top-scoring Tunisian player at the tournament with ten total goals, while Youssef Msakni has appeared in a record 29 matches across eight tournaments between 2010 and 2023.

Overall record Africa Cup of Nations recordAfrica Cup of Nations qualification recordYearRoundPosition*Squad 1957Not affiliated to CAFNot affiliated to CAF 1959 1962Third place3rd210154Squad430172 1963Group stage5th201135Squad210165 1965Runners-up2nd311163SquadQualified as hosts 1968Did not qualify411255 1970Did not enterDid not enter 1972 1974 1976Did not qualify631287 1978Fourth place4th512245Squad4211107 1980BannedBanned 1982Group stage7th301214Squad211010 1984Did not qualify421161 1986210112 1988201112 1990200204 19926330105 1994Group stage9th201113SquadQualified as hosts 1996Runners-up2nd6222109Squad834172 1998Quarter-finals7th421165Squad320131 2000Fourth place4th622269Squad6501133 2002Group stage11th302101Squad622297 2004Champions1st6420104SquadQualified as hosts 2006Quarter-finals6th421175Squad10631259 2008Quarter-finals5th412176Squad6411123 2010Group stage12th303033Squad12732187 2012Quarter-finals6th420255Squad8422146 2013Group stage12th311124Squad202022 2015Quarter-finals7th412155Squad642062 2017Quarter-finals8th420267Squad6411163 2019Fourth place4th714265Squad6501124 2021Quarter-finals8th520353Squad6510145 2023Group stage20th302112Squad6411111 2025Round of 1612th412176 Squad 631276 2027To be determinedTo be determined 2028Total87263229106103—135753228224101—

Matches

YearStageDateOpponentResultTunisia scorers1 19621Semi-finals14 January 19622–4Merrichkou Chérif 2Third place match20 January 19623–0Jedidi Laaouini Meddab 2 19633Group stage24 November 19631–1Jedidi 4Group stage28 November 19632–4Chetali Jedidi 3 19655Group stage12 November 19654–0Chaïbi Jedidi Delhoum Lahmar 6Group stage14 November 19650–0—7Final21 November 19652–3Chetali Chaïbi 4 19788Group stage6 March 19781–1Kaabi 9Group stage9 March 19783–1Labidi Ben Aziza 10Group stage11 March 19780–0—11Semi-finals14 March 19780–1—12Third place match16 March 19780–2 ()Akid 5 198213Group stage5 March 19821–1Gabsi 14Group stage9 March 19820–2—15Group stage12 March 19820–1—6 199416Group stage26 March 19940–2—17Group stage30 March 19941–1Rouissi 7 199618Group stage16 January 19961–1Berkhissa 19Group stage19 January 19961–2Ben Younes 20Group stage25 January 19963–1Ben Younes Ben Hassen 21Quarter-finals28 January 19961–1 Baya 22Semi-finals31 January 19964–2Sellimi Baya Ghodhbane 23Final3 February 19960–2—8 199824Group stage9 February 19980–2—25Group stage12 February 19982–1Ben Slimane Tlemcani 26Group stage16 February 19983–1Tlemcani Ben Slimane Gabsi 27Quarter-finals21 February 19981–1 Gabsi 9 200028Group stage23 January 20002–4Azaiez Baya 29Group stage29 January 20000–0—30Group stage3 February 20001–0Jaïdi 31Quarter-finals7 February 20001–0Badra 32Semi-finals10 February 20000–3—33Third place match12 February 20002–2 Zitouni 10 200234Group stage21 January 20020–0—35Group stage25 January 20020–1—36Group stage31 January 20020–0—11 200437Group stage24 January 20042–1Jaziri Santos 38Group stage28 January 20043–0Santos Braham 39Group stage1 February 20041–1Ben Achour 40Quarter-finals7 February 20041–0Mnari 41Semi-finals11 February 20041–1 Badra 42Final14 February 20042–1Santos Jaziri 12 200643Group stage22 January 20064–1Santos Bouazizi 44Group stage26 January 20062–0Santos Ben Achour 45Group stage30 January 20060–3—46Quarter-finals4 February 20061–1 Haggui 13 200847Group stage23 January 20082–2Jemâa Traoui 48Group stage27 January 20083–1Santos Ben Saada 49Group stage31 January 20080–0—50Quarter-finals4 February 20082–3 Ben Saada Chikhaoui 14 201051Group stage13 January 20101–1Dhaouadi 52Group stage17 January 20100–0—53Group stage21 January 20102–2Chermiti Chedjou 15 201254Group stage23 January 20122–1Korbi Msakni 55Group stage27 January 20122–1Msakni Jemâa 56Group stage27 January 20120–1—57Quarter-finals5 February 20121–2 Khelifa 16 201358Group stage22 January 20131–0Msakni 59Group stage26 January 20130–3—60Group stage30 January 20131–1Mouelhi 17 201561Group stage18 January 20151–1Manser 62Group stage22 January 20152–1Akaïchi Chikhaoui 63Group stage26 January 20151–1Akaïchi 64Quarter-finals31 January 20151–2 Akaïchi 18 201765Group stage15 January 20170–2—66Group stage19 January 20172–1Mandi Sliti 67Group stage23 January 20174–2Sliti Msakni Khenissi Khazri 68Quarter-finals28 January 20170–2—19 201969Group stage24 June 20191–1Msakni 70Group stage28 June 20191–1Khazri 71Group stage2 July 20190–0—72Round of 168 July 20191–1 Khenissi 73Quarter-finals11 July 20193–0Sassi Msakni Sliti 74Semi-finals14 July 20190–1 —75Third place match17 July 20190–1—20 202176Group stage12 January 20220–1—77Group stage16 January 20224–0Mathlouthi Khazri Jaziri 78Group stage20 January 20220–1—79Round of 1623 January 20221–0Msakni 80Quarter-finals29 January 20220–1—21 202381Group stage16 January 20240–1—82Group stage20 January 20241–1Rafia 83Group stage24 January 20240–0—22 202584Group stage23 December 20253–1Skhiri Achouri 85Group stage27 December 20252–3Talbi Abdi 86Group stage30 December 20251–1Gharbi 87Round of 163 January 20261–1 Chaouat

Notes

Tournaments 1962 African Cup of Nations

Team 1Score Team 2Semi-finals4–2Third place match3–0

Semi-finals

Third place match

1963 African Cup of Nations

Group stage

1965 African Cup of Nations

Group stage

Final

GK 1John Bortey Naawu DF6Willie Evans DF3Charles Addo Odametey (c) DF8Sam Acquah DF16Ben Kusi MF7Oman Mensah MF11Kofi Pare MF17Kwame Nti FW10Cecil Jones Attuquayefio FW14Osei Kofi MF15Frank Odoi Substitutions: – Manager:Charles Kumi Gyamfi GK 1Sadok SassiDF 2Mahfoudh BenzartiDF 3Hédi DouiriDF 4Mohsen HabachaMF 5Ahmed LamineMF 6Abdelmajid Chetali (c)MF 8Tahar ChaïbiMF 16Moncef Ajel FW 7Aleya SassiFW 9Rachid Gribaâ FW 12Salah JedidiSubstitutions:FW –Abdelwahab Lahmar Manager:Mokhtar Ben Nacef

1978 African Cup of Nations

Group stage

Semi-finals

Third place match The match was abandoned after Tunisia walked off in the 42nd minute with the score tied at 1–1 to protest the officiating. Nigeria were awarded a 2–0 win, and Tunisia were suspended for two years (also banning them from the next tournament).

1982 African Cup of Nations

Group stage

1994 African Cup of Nations

Group stage The team managed to break the streak by hosting the African Cup of Nations as a replacement for Zaire, but was defeated by Mali 0–2 in the opening match in front of 45,000 people at the El Menzah Stadium, which contributed to the dismissal of Youssef Zouaoui, replaced by Faouzi Benzarti, who drew the second match against Zaire 1–1. Despite positive expectations before the start of the tournament, the team was eliminated from the group stage after a defeat and a draw.

1996 African Cup of Nations

Group stage

Quarter-finals

Semifinals

Final

GK 1Andre ArendseRB 2Sizwe MotaungCB 5Mark FishCB 4Lucas RadebeLB 9Neil Tovey (c)DM 8Linda Buthelezi DM 21Eric TinklerAM 15Doctor KhumaloAM 10John MoshoeuCF 17Shaun BartlettCF 6Phil Masinga Substitutions:MF 19Helman Mkhalele FW 11Mark Williams Manager: Clive Barker GK 1 Chokri El Ouaer (c)RB 14 Sabri JaballahCB 6 Ferid ChouchaneCB 4 Mounir BoukadidaLB 5 Hédi BerkhissaDM 20 Riadh Bouazizi RM 12 Sofiane FekhiLM 10 Kaies Ghodhbane AM 8 Zoubeir BayaCF 18 Mehdi Ben SlimaneCF 11 Adel SellimiSubstitutions:DF 21 Lassad Hanini FW 9 Abdelkader Ben Hassen Manager: Henryk Kasperczak

1998 African Cup of Nations

Group stage

Quarter-finals

2000 African Cup of Nations

Group stage

Quarter-finals

Semifinals

Third place match

2002 African Cup of Nations

Group stage

2004 African Cup of Nations

As hosts, Tunisia did not have to qualify for the 2004 African Cup of Nations, where they face DR Congo, Rwanda and Guinea in the first round. The team won his opening match against Rwanda 2–1, thanks to goals from Ziad Jaziri and Francileudo Santos, despite the expulsion of Selim Benachour in the 60th minute with a red card. The second match against DR Congo is difficult until the Congolese Lomana LuaLua is sent off with a red card in the first half, after a frank attack on Jawhar Mnari. Thanks to Hatem Trabelsi on the right flank, the team managed to win the match 3–0 with a double from Dos Santos in the 55th and 87th minutes and a goal by Najeh Braham in the 65th minute. On the day of the third match, corresponding to eid al-Adha, 35,000 spectators came to the stadium. Guinea managed to snatch the equalizing point after the end of the game with the score at 1–1, Benachour scoring Tunisia's goal in the 58th minute, followed by a Guinean goal from Titi Camara in the last minutes of the match. Tunisia qualified for the quarter-finals on top of the group with seven points, after two wins and a draw.