Led by All-star Team playmaker Ibrahim TENNICH, Tunisia grabbed a fifth- place finish on home sand at the 2025 IHF Men’s Youth Beach Handball World Championship last year to seal their spot at Dakar 2026.

It was all the more impressive seeing as the event included the first-ever competitive game for the side who were playing in front of loud and passionate home support.

While TENNICH and a number of his teammates from last year are now unable to compete in Senegal due to their age, goalkeeper Hamza ZAKHAMA, left back Bassem MARGHALI and specialist Yahia MAKHLOUF, plus coach, Mohamed TABOUB, are still involved and will be looking to continue the good work from 12 months ago.

At Dakar 2026, the North African side will face two teams in their preliminary group who they know well: Cook Islands and Thailand, having beaten them both in Hammamet last year 2-0, (20:0, 18:12) and (20:16, 20:12) respectively.

The potential of the team is clear with a shoot-out loss against eventual silver medallists followed by a main round shoot-out win against Buenos Aires 2018 bronze medallists Argentina, the South American side then beaten 2-0 in the 5-8 placement round, which saw the hosts face Dakar 2026 opponents Thailand once more, securing a 2-0 (18:16, 22:12) victory.

MAKHLOUF played in all eight world championship games last year, scoring 65 points, to end as Tunisia’s second-best scorer, with the centre back/specialist now captaining his nation. Earlier this year he played a vital role in helping Tunisia claim the first-ever CAHB African Men’s Beach Handball Championship title.

The 17-year-old was named MVP in the semi-final of that continental championship and has already played a number of times for the senior side, including at The World Games 2025 and 2026 IHF Men’s Beach Handball World Championship earlier this year, two tournaments in which defensive specialist and Dakar 2026 teammate Ahmed KHALIFI also played.

“We are a close-knit group that has made tremendous progress since our initial training camps. Today, we are capable of competing with any team. Notably, we defeated Argentina twice and faced Brazil – a match that ultimately went to a shoot-out, where they got the better of us,” said MAKHLOUF to IHF.info.

“Participating in the Youth Olympic Games is a rare privilege. We fully grasp both the opportunity we have been given and the responsibility that rests upon our shoulders. We will give everything we have on the court, down to our very last ounce of energy, to honour the colours of Tunisia and make our country proud.”

Along with TENNICH, Tunisia will also be missing the versatile Bassem MARGHLI, who was also an important player on the sand last year. Having excelled indoors with the national youth teams and club side El Makarem de Mahdia, he was picked up by German club SG Flensburg-Handewitt just a month before Dakar 2026 to start a new, exciting career in Europe.

Coach Mohamed TABOUBI has been part of the success of Tunisian beach handball over the past decade having been in charge of the senior men’s team since 2015 and winning multiple golds in the Mediterranean Beach Games (2015), African Beach Games (2019, 2023) and African Championships (2026).

The 59-year-old is a former indoor player and as a women’s club coach, has won every available Tunisian title, including five consecutive league and cup doubles and two Arab championships. He is joined by a legend of Tunisian beach handball on the bench in Senegal, with former men’s national team captain Aymen Touzi acting as his assistant.

“Germany is a top-tier team; world runners-up and silver medallists at the 2026 European Championship. They are an experienced side and pose a real challenge for us. Thailand is a fast team that we know well; they possess qualities that we will need to take into account, while the Cook Islands are an improving team that has prepared well for this competition. We must therefore approach every match with seriousness, focus, and determination,” said TABOUBI about his preliminary group opponents.

“We are heading into this competition with a young squad and for most of the players this will be their first experience at this international level. While this adds an extra challenge, it also serves as a fantastic opportunity for growth and gaining experience.

“These Games should help our players develop, strengthen their sporting maturity, and prepare for the future of Tunisian beach handball. We are fully aware of the demands of this competition, but we also have ambition and we will arrive in Dakar with a firm commitment to defend our national colours, give our absolute best on the court, and represent Tunisia with dignity.”

TABOUBI described his team style of play as “…intelligent, structured, and disciplined,” and stressed the important of organisation and quality decision-making as key, before turning his attentions to the importance of appearing at an Olympic Games.

“Being the head coach of the Tunisian team at such an important event is a source of immense pride for me, but it also carries a great responsibility that extends beyond the realm of sports,” he explained.

“Through these young talents, I have the honour of representing my country and wearing its colours on the international stage. My role is to support and guide them, enabling them to perform at their absolute best—both as athletes and as individuals.

“I hope to live up to the expectations and the trust that have been placed in me. We will do everything in our power to honour the national shirt and use this experience to contribute to the development and future of Tunisian beach handball.”

Coach: Mohamed TABOUBI
Key players: Hamza ZAKHAMA (Goalkeeper), Bassem MARGHALI (Left Back), Yahia MAKHLOUF (Specialist)
Qualification information: Tunisia 2025 – Highest-ranked African representative
History in tournament: 2018: DNQ
Group at Dakar 2026: Group A – Tunisia (TUN), Thailand (THA), Germany (GER), Cook Islands (COK)