The African Supercup Preview: Club Sportif Sfaxien vs. Etoile Sportive du Sahel

The African Supercup, which pits African Champions League winners Etoile versus African Confederation Cup winners CSS, will take place tomorrow at 5:00 pm Tunis time (11:00 am EST). Basically the best thing about this for a Tunisian is the fact that this cup will not be leaving our shores. As a neutral viewer I only hope that both teams show why each of them lifted their respective title and that the one who plays best wins.

You could say that the game comes at a better time for Etoile than it does for CSS. Etoile are coming off a win in Bizerte while CSS could not handle their last opponents in the domestic league. It’s deeper than that though as CSS has been dealing with a lot of injuries and financial repercussions following their decision to abandon a league game versus Esperance due to alleged unfair officiating. They had just lost Amir Haj Messaoud to a serious ankle injury which is still sidelining him and during that game they lost Apoko.

The good news for CSS is Apoko is back and in scoring form. The bad news is Amir Haj Messaoud won’t be back till next year (that is if his rehabilitation is successful, which we hope it is). Without one of their best defenders their task will be complicated if you consider they have to face the attacking trio of Gilson, Chermiti, and Ben Dhifallah and everyone else Etoile will be throwing at them. Nevertheless, CSS fans will be expecting their boys to rise to the occasion and beat the reigning Tunisian champs in Rades. It promises to be an entertaining match so if you want to watch it I suggest you download sopcast, sort the channels by region and tune into Koora Tounsia.

Anyone up for predictions? No disrespect for CSS fans out there but I’m putting Etoile down for a 3-1 victory. I could be way off but I’m looking for goals baby. What do you think?

Expected Lineups

Etoile: Balbouli, Berradhia, Meriah, Jmel, Felhi, Nafkha, Traoui, Gilson, Gharbi, Chermiti, Ben Dhifallah (Moussa Narry OUT due to Flu)

CSS: Saidi, Gharbi, Bouzzidi, Rouidh, Mechergui, Bnouni, Naby, Hammami, Kadri, Apoko, Kouassi

How They Got Here

Etoile Beat Al Ahly of Egypt in the Champions League

CSS Beat El Merreikh of Sudan in the Confederation Cup