Tunisia
The Agony and The Ecstasy
Etoile Du Sahel Fails in Defending Champions League Crown
In a game where they did everything but put the ball in the net, Etoile took it’s leave prematurely from the champions league. The 1-0 away defeat in Zimbabwe looked very much surmountable at the start of this match but the posts and crossbars weren’t kind to the Sahelis who wasted a majestic performance by Souheil Berradhia.
After watching Club Africain lose the previous day, I was ready to throw all my support behind Etoile like last year when they lifted the title and honored Tunisia with their displays at the Club World Cup. Unfortunately for all Tunisians, not a single team from our country remains in the Champions league. This is the first time in our history that it has happened at this early stage. Etoile will now turn it’s attention to the Confederations Cup and the domestic league where they will hope their extended goal drought will end. People are starting to ask questions about how Marchand’s teams finish seasons…
Club Africain Loses With Honor
After the 5-1 away result in the Nigerians favor, Club Africain was facing an exceptionally difficult task. Scoring four goals doesn’t happen every day but anyone who watched the match could tell you that there were even more goals than that in this one for the Red and White outfit. The perfect opening scenario materialized when Borhen Ghannem put away a Sellami cross with only three minutes on the clock.
Unfortunately for us, 20 shots on target later and 60 percent ball possession, the score stood at 2-1. Nevertheless, CA comes out of this game with it’s head held high as they know in their heart of hearts that they were wronged in Nigeria and came closer than the final score indicates in Tunis. Bilel Ifa, Karim Aouadhi, and Helmi Hmem outdid themselves and most of them were playing in positions they are not accustomed to. The fans also deserve a salute for being such good sports and for cheering their boys as well as Eniyimba off the pitch when all was said and done. Let’s hope better luck awaits them in the Confederation Cup.
CSS Still in the Hunt to Repeat As Champions
CSS survived a nervy end to their 2-1 win to go through on the away goals rule against 10 man Saint Louis. Goals from Souma Nabe and Basi Silla were enough to ensure the Sfaxiens get a chance to defend their title further into this competition.
Considering their bumpy run in the domestic league, they really could not afford to lose this one in front of their fans. Now they just need to work on putting away more of the chances they create. Saying that is kind of getting old, as three out of the four Tunisian teams in these African competitions would have benefited greatly from more efficiency in front of goal. The most important thing is that Khaled Ben Yahia has this team playing the type of soccer that deserted them mid season.
A Touch of Brasilian Spice for Esperance
Cabral must have brought some goal potion with him from South America because Esperance went on a scoring frenzy in this stunning 6-1 win. Talk about paying instant dividends!
The summary: two goals from Aboucherouane, two goals from Chaabani (not bad for a central defender!), one for Derbali, and one for the goalkeeper, Kasraoui! Hamdi must have treasured that moment as the fans chanted his name and basically asked him to take it. He stepped up and dispatched it with a strikers efficiency. The fans from the capital have been suffering recently but this must have felt like ecstasy (see what I did there?)
So there you have it, a year with no Champions League for us but one where we have very strong chances of making sure the Confederation Cup Stays in Tunis. Highlights of all the matches available here in the latest Dimanche Sport through the one and only Beurkman.
More Tunisia World Cup News
Haggui Ruled Out of June Qualifiers; Baghouli Faces 6 Month Doping Ban
Disconcerting news out of Germany today as Karim Haggui made a call to mosaique FM saying that he just underwent what he termed a minor surgery on his abdomen. Apparently the injury itself was never serious but it kept coming and going and anyone who ever played a sport semi seriously knows how annoying ... [read]
Fasten Your Seatbelts: Travel Schedule & Matches for Preliminary Qualifiers Set
The month of June is gonna be quite a roller coaster for our national team. Check out this schedule Infofoot provided earlier today:
-Assembling of selected players on 25th of May, 2008.
-Tunisia vs. Burkina Faso on the 1st of June, 2008 at Rades Stadium (18:00).
-Flight for Seychelles ... [read]
Kiss Him Goodbye: Esperance Loses Zouaoui, Calls on Cabral… Again
Reports from Tunis indicate that Youssef Zouaoui has resigned from his post at Esperance as of this afternoon. Citing unrealistic fan expectations that led to rising pressure on the players and staff, the coach decided to take his leave from the Red and Gold outfit. Hamdi Meddeb, the team president, has turned to none ... [read]
Gafsa Hands Club Africain a Lifeline
Club Africain entered today’s match against Marsa knowing that winning was their only option if they wanted to stay in the hunt for the league title. Even though the players didn’t put forth a great performance, they got the three points they craved thanks to an uncharacteristic Zouheir Dhaouadi header which ... [read]
Saber Ben Fraj Makes Successful Debut with Le Mans
I’m practically a week late reporting on this but they say better late then never so here it goes: Saber Ben Fraj, Al Moudafa3 el haddaf (the goalscoring defender), SBF, Ben Fraj, or just SABER finally got a full 90 minutes under his belt in the Ligue 1 with his team Le Mans. ... [read]
Weekend Wackness in African Competitions
Yes, yes, it took me a while to get to this. A full 48 hours were necessary for me to get over a result that shocked the hell out of me upon gazing at my computer screen. I was scrolling down the page of Mosaique FM and I see:
CSS vs. Liguere St. Louis ... [read]
Say it Ain’t So! FTF Approaches Santini
Another day, another bonehead decision by our Federation. The FTF is in negotiations with former French NT coach Jacques Santini. Saying I don’t know what to say would be cliche. And saying that something is cliche is totally cliche. So let me just say this: What the f##k are they smoking? Whatever it is, it must be high quality!
I’d write ... [read]
Etoile Close in on Title With Club Africain Still Hot on Their Heels
The match that everyone was waiting for certainly did not disappoint. It finished on a 2-2 tie and there was everything you could ask for a in a soccer match: Plenty of chances, beautiful passing, some fancy dribbles, amazing saves, multiple lead changes and fan-tastic fan support (pun intended).
Etoile dominated the ... [read]
The Weekend Classico Sans Chermiti/Mouihbi
This weekend is the match of the year between Club Africain and Etoile Sportive du Sahel. With the end of the season fast approaching and CA only two points behind the defending champs, it’s an understatement to say that this game has a whole lot riding on it. As luck would have it ... [read]
Latest Comments
- Fasten Your Seatbelts: Travel Schedule & Matches for Preliminary Qualifiers Set
Hey Rami, I would love to be as a sub or backup player let me know my email is skobrosl@gmail.com I ...[read more] - Fasten Your Seatbelts: Travel Schedule & Matches for Preliminary Qualifiers Set
Yo Hatim, I haven't finalized my summer plans yet but hopefully I'll make it to Tunisia to see at le ...[read more] - Fasten Your Seatbelts: Travel Schedule & Matches for Preliminary Qualifiers Set
Ill be in Tunisia in June so I plan on going to the Burundi match on June 21st. It should be fun. ...[read more] - Gafsa Hands Club Africain a Lifeline
This is Great I realy am enjoying the suspense here and again who ever wins the title deserves it. H ...[read more] - Kiss Him Goodbye: Esperance Loses Zouaoui, Calls on Cabral... Again
No worries Seif, I know how finals can get. I don't know if I'm the ideal candidate for hardcore run ...[read more] - Kiss Him Goodbye: Esperance Loses Zouaoui, Calls on Cabral... Again
Hey Rami, sorry for the delay finals are killing me well I play in Arlington,VA called the American ...[read more] - Kiss Him Goodbye: Esperance Loses Zouaoui, Calls on Cabral... Again
Makes me wonder if Esperance know what they're doing! Seven coaches in one year, it's a bit much. ...[read more] - Kiss Him Goodbye: Esperance Loses Zouaoui, Calls on Cabral... Again
Thanks Rami. Adel Chedli also played on Sion this season. Apparently they couldn't replace him as ...[read more] - Kiss Him Goodbye: Esperance Loses Zouaoui, Calls on Cabral... Again
Hey Yassine, Mosaique FM said that him and his agent met with representatives from FC Sion at the Go ...[read more] - Kiss Him Goodbye: Esperance Loses Zouaoui, Calls on Cabral... Again
Esperance shouldn't fire Cabral from the beginning, if they've been patient with him he would've ach ...[read more] - Gafsa Hands Club Africain a Lifeline
If we end up winning the title, I won't care whether we really deserved it or not (clearly I think w ...[read more] - Gafsa Hands Club Africain a Lifeline
Forza Stade Tunisie - Gafsa Hands Club Africain a Lifeline
I like the ESS team more then the CA, CA showed during the year poor football in African Champions l ...[read more] - Gafsa Hands Club Africain a Lifeline
El Wislaty is a CRY BABY!!! He is always complaining about something. L'Etoile are the champions i ...[read more] - Gafsa Hands Club Africain a Lifeline
ESS wasted 2 important points today, I thought that it wasn't a problem because of the goal average ...[read more]
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