Tunisia: Meriah returns with crucial goal for Espérance ahead of Tunis Derby

All is set for a massive Tunis Derby next Sunday after defending champions Espérance Tunis escaped the Stade Chedly Zouiten with Monday’s 1-0 victory over hosts JS Omrane in Tunisia’s Ligue 1 Professionnelle.

In a tense match that saw both teams reduced to ten players due to red cards, veteran central defender Yassine Meriah marked his return from injury with a crucial penalty kick conversion in the 78th minute to give EST three important points.

A VAR review led to the penalty kick after Jack Diarra’s cross attempted to find fellow substitute Aboubacar Diakité, who was barged over from behind.

Only six minutes earlier, it appeared that the match might be a missed opportunity for Espérance who desperately needed a victory. Defender Hamza Jelassi was sent off for a nasty challenge, eliminating a numerical advantage for the visitors after JSO midfielder Mohamed Ben Amor was sent off before the half hour mark.

But Meriah, who has endured a 2025-26 season filled with injuries that has limited him to less than twenty appearances this season, sent goalkeeper Montasser Essid the wrong way from the spot for the decisive moment of the match.

⏱ FT | #Ligue1Tn🇹🇳 Week 28 #JSOEST | #JSOmrane 0⃣-1⃣ @ESTuniscom : End of the match / نهاية المباراة / Fin du match pic.twitter.com/6iGaTRSVGB

— Espérance de Tunis ❤️💛 الترجي التونسي (@ESTuniscom) May 4, 2026

Now all attention and focus turns to Sunday for Taraji, who must defeat Club Africain to overtake their rivals and claim first place. Only two rounds remain and the Stade Hammadi Agrebi will be rocking for the occasion, where Club Africain will attempt to secure their first league title since the 2014-15 season. Espérance have won eight of the last nine league titles.

Tunisia Ligue 1 Table

JS Omrane 0-1 Espérance Tunis: Full Highlights