Tunisia Qualify for 2022 World Cup Finals

Tunisia players celebrate after qualifying to World Cup 2022 after their match against Mali, at the Olympic stadium in Rades, Tunisia, Tuesday, March 29, 2022. (AP Photo/Hassene Dridi)
Tunisia players celebrate after qualifying to World Cup 2022 after their match against Mali, at the Olympic stadium in Rades, Tunisia, Tuesday, March 29, 2022. (AP Photo/Hassene Dridi)
TT

Tunisia Qualify for 2022 World Cup Finals

Tunisia players celebrate after qualifying to World Cup 2022 after their match against Mali, at the Olympic stadium in Rades, Tunisia, Tuesday, March 29, 2022. (AP Photo/Hassene Dridi)
Tunisia players celebrate after qualifying to World Cup 2022 after their match against Mali, at the Olympic stadium in Rades, Tunisia, Tuesday, March 29, 2022. (AP Photo/Hassene Dridi)

Tunisia secured a place at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar despite being held 0-0 at home by Mali on Tuesday in the second leg of an African play-off.

A pre-match warning by Tunisia coach Jalel Kadri to his team that the return match would be even tougher than the first leg in Bamako last Friday proved spot on.

Having built a 1-0 lead in Mali through a Moussa Sissako own-goal, Tunisia were unable to build on their aggregate advantage and scraped through for a sixth appearance at the finals.

Cameroon, Ghana and Morocco also booked their places in the finals on a frantic night of play-off action.



Spain Extends Contract of National Team Coach Luis de la Fuente until 2028

Spain’s head coach Luis de la Fuente monitors a training session in Donaueschingen, Germany, July 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez, file)
Spain’s head coach Luis de la Fuente monitors a training session in Donaueschingen, Germany, July 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez, file)
TT

Spain Extends Contract of National Team Coach Luis de la Fuente until 2028

Spain’s head coach Luis de la Fuente monitors a training session in Donaueschingen, Germany, July 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez, file)
Spain’s head coach Luis de la Fuente monitors a training session in Donaueschingen, Germany, July 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez, file)

Spain's national team coach Luis de la Fuente has extended his contract until 2028 after leading the team to last year's European Championship title.

The Spanish soccer federation said Monday that it is “renewing its confidence” in the 63-year-old De la Fuente, who started coaching the nation's youth squads in 2013 and took over the senior team after the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to replace Luis Enrique, The AP reported.

De la Fuente is the first Spain coach to win the European Championship at three different levels after also leading the country to the Under-19 and Under-21 titles.

The new contract will keep the former player in charge of La Roja during the 2026 World Cup and Euro 2028.