For four decades the title stayed just out of reach. As hosts in 1965 Tunisia reached the final in Tunis and lost to Ghana in extra time; in 1996, in the first 16-team tournament, debutant hosts South Africa beat them in the final, Mark Williams scoring twice. The breakthrough came at home in 2004, when Tunisia beat Morocco 2–1 in the final to become African champions — a moment defender Radhi Jaïdi still describes as the most powerful memory of his career.
Since then the Carthage Eagles have been a fixture of the knockout rounds: quarter-finalists six times between 2006 and 2021 and semi-finalists in 2019. Youssef Msakni played at eight tournaments from 2010 to 2023, a joint record. At Morocco 2025 they beat Uganda 3–1, lost 3–2 to Nigeria and drew with Tanzania, then went out to Mali on penalties in the round of 16.
The road to 2027 has a twist. Tunisia are in Group H with co-hosts Uganda, whose place is already secure, plus Libya and Botswana, so only the best-placed of the other three teams qualifies. Mouine Chaâbani, appointed on 28 July 2026 on a four-year contract, starts at home to Uganda when qualifying begins on 24 September 2026.