The Tunisian Handball Federation (FTHB) have announced Thierry Anti as their new men’s national team coach.

The French coach has signed a contract from 1 April and running until 31 March 2028, a period including the 2027 IHF Men’s World Championship and 2028 CAHB Men’s African Championship.

Anti replaces previous coach Mohamed Ali Sghir, who led the Tunisia men to silver at the 2026 CAHB Men’s African Championship in Rwanda, where they lost the final to Egypt 37:24 in January.

Anti has had spells at numerous club teams, reaching European finals along the way, including Pontault-Combault, Creteil, Paris, Nantes, Lisbon and Aix and was announced in January as joining the technical staff of C'Chartres Métropole Handball for the 2026-2027 season, a role he will combine with the Tunisia one, his first-ever as an international coach.

“It's a long story with Tunisia; we've been in contact several times,” explained Anti to Handnews.fr.  “When the president presented his project to me again, I gladly accepted.”

This also means that Tunisia men's and women's senior national teams are now coached by French coaches, with Pablo Morel leading the African women's team to the 20th place in the final standings at the 2025 IHF Women's World Championship.

The FTHB also announced Anti’s coaching team, which includes assistant – and Chartres coach – Amor Khedira as well as Sami Al-Saeedi, Riad Al-Saniy and Wael Al-Boutiti.

“We need to work collaboratively, and I also need the expertise of the Tunisian coaches,” concluded Anti, who will be looking to improve on Tunisia’s recent IHF Men’s World Championship rankings of 22nd (2025), 25th (2021, 2023).

Photo credit: HBC Nantes