Tunisia ‘s Espérance de Tunis are eying their 5th champions league title and the first since 2019.
The only Tunisians competing in the African Champions League group stage this year, the Blood and Gold have been faithful to their decades-long traditition of five-star group stage performance.
Their away victory, last night, against Algeria’s CR Belouezdad has more to say than just giving them 3 more points, putting them on top if their group table, and confirming this tradition.
By defeating Belouezdad, Espérance de Tunis managed to overcome a serious psychological obstacle that has prevented them from maintaining their lead in their away games, namely, against Egypt’s Al-Ahly in the 2012 final and the 2017 quater final games, or against Morocco’s Al Wydad in the 2019 final game.
Compared to their performance with previous manager and ex-Bolton Wanderers central back, Radhi Jaidi, the Gold and Blood have improved tactically with the current head coach Nabil Maaloul, though they were more convincing in their technical and individual style under coach Jaidi.
Yet, the winners of the 2019 title should be concerned about their upcoming group knockout round chances. The gap between Espérance’s group stage and knockout round performances has been wide. For a team that is rarely eliminated early from a tournament it rarely missed, 4 champions league titles is a mismatch. Al Ahly and AlWydad, their bitter rivals are waiting around the corner.
