CAFCL: Kanzari parts ways with Esperance after Stade Malien defeat

Esperance have confirmed their decision to part ways with coach Maher Al-Kanzari following their CAF Champions League defeat away to Stade Malien on Sunday.

The Group D fixture in Bamako saw Esperance suffer a 1-0 defeat to leave their qualification hopes to the knockout stages hanging in the balance.

 

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A statement from the Tunisian club on social media confirmed Kanzari’s exit: “Ending the contractual relationship with the coach Maher Al-Kanzari.”

New technical staff to be announced soon

Meanwhile, Tunisia News also broke the latest development by saying: “The president of Espérance Sportive de Tunis, Hamdi Meddeb, has decided to terminate the contractual relationship between the club and head coach Maher Kanzari.

“The composition of the new technical staff will be announced in the coming days.”

Early in September, Esperance management affirmed their trust in Kanzari after a Tunisian Ligue 1 loss to Stade Tunisien. The week five games saw Kanzari’s charges taste their first league loss of the new season.

The shaky start to the 2025-26 season saw Espérance win only two matches, while sitting in fourth place with eight points.

Esperence are lying second in Group D

Esperance, nicknamed the Blood and Gold, remained second following the defeat with six points after one win and three draws. Their attack has scored four goals and conceded four.

Meanwhile, Stade Malien extended their lead at the top to 11 points having secured three wins and two draws. They have scored five goals and conceded only one.

Kanzari succeeded with Tunisia national U-17 football team to qualify for the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup hosted by South Korea after reaching the semi-final of 2007 African U-17 Championship.

He reached the round of the 16 after beating teams like Belgium and the United States making Espérance de Tunis appoint him as its assistant coach in 2007.

Following the departure of Faouzi Benzarti in 2010, he became coach of Espérance de Tunis, before giving way a few weeks later to Nabil Maâloul.