Former Sunderland star Wahbi Khazri in World Cup turmoil as Tunisia sack Lamouchi | OneFootball

Former Sunderland forward Wahbi Khazri is at the centre of World Cup turmoil after Tunisia sacked head coach Sabri Lamouchi following a 5-1 defeat to Sweden.

The Tunisian football federation said in a statement on Instagram that an agreement had been reached to dismiss Lamouchi, with plans under way to appoint Mondher Kebaier as interim coach.

Khazri, part of the national team’s coaching staff, remains with the squad. He had been linked with stepping up after Lamouchi’s exit, although Kebaier now appears set for the interim role.

Lamouchi was appointed in January and oversaw just five matches before his dismissal. Pressure had grown after a 5-0 friendly loss to Belgium in Brussels before the tournament.

Tunisia face Japan on Saturday at the same stadium in Guadalupe where Sweden beat them, then finish their group against the Netherlands in Kansas City.

This is Khazri’s first major tournament as part of Tunisia’s staff. He remains a popular figure on Wearside after joining Sunderland in January 2016 during Sam Allardyce’s survival push.

He scored his first Sunderland goal in the 2-1 win over Manchester United with a free-kick, set up Lamine Kone’s late winner, and struck a superb volley in the 3-2 victory over Chelsea.

Source: Sunderland Echo