Tunisia: Espérance and CS Sfaxien survive difficult opponents

Espérance Tunis (EST) will head into the CAF Champions League quarterfinals on the back of a victory after defeating AS Marsa while CS Sfaxien strengthened their hold on third place Saturday in Tunisia’s Ligue 1 Professionnelle.

Veteran defender Hamza Jelassi converted from the penalty spot in the 10th minute for the only goal of the match in EST’s victory. After Algerian attacker Kouceila Boualia was taken down on the right wing just inside the box, Jelassi sent AS Marsa goalkeeper Bechir Abessi the wrong way.

The Blood and Gold have won five of their last six matches in all competitions but the reigning Tunisian club champions do not look particularly strong ahead of their most important fixtures. With Egyptian titans Al Ahly coming up next weekend, recently appointed coach Patrice Beaumelle will need his team to reach another level in the Champions League quarterfinals after struggling to navigate the group stage.

They will host the first leg next Sunday before traveling to Egypt for the second leg the following Saturday. Al Ahly have not lost in any of the last six meetings between the two African giants over the last five years.

In a duel between rivals located on the Mediterranean coast, hosts US Monastir fell 0-1 to third place club CS Sfaxien.

 

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Substitute Emmanuel Ogbole scored a late winner for CSS, whose defense continues to impress. The club have only allowed two goals in seven matches so far in 2026, a trend that has seen them gradually move up the table into third place.

Second place Club Africain wil be in action on Sunday at US Ben Guerdane while Stade Tunisien, in fourth place, will host Étoile du Sahel.

Latest Table: Espérance maintain lead