Espérance Sportive de Tunis have dismissed French coach Patrice Beaumelle following a disappointing run of results that saw the club lose the Tunisian league title and fall short in the CAF Champions League.
The Tunisian club confirmed the decision in an official statement published on its Facebook page, announcing that fellow Frenchman Christian Braconi would take charge of the first team until the end of the current campaign.
The statement read: “Espérance Sportive de Tunis informs its fans that coach Patrice Beaumelle’s tenure with the first team has ended, and that coach Christian Braconi will take over the team until the end of the current season.”
Beaumelle had only arrived at the club in March, with Esperance hoping his appointment would help restore continental success and secure another domestic league title. However, the former coach’s spell ended after a series of damaging results during the decisive phase of the season.
Champions League Exit Increased Pressure
One of the major setbacks came in the CAF Champions League, where Esperance were eliminated in the semi-finals by Mamelodi Sundowns.
The Tunisian side lost both legs of the tie, suffering a 2-0 aggregate defeat that ended their hopes of reaching the continental final.
The Champions League exit significantly increased pressure on the coaching staff and club management, particularly given the expectations surrounding the team at the start of the campaign.
Matters worsened domestically when Esperance lost the Tunisian league title to their fierce rivals Club Africain.
The decisive moment came in the Tunis derby, where Club Africain secured a 1-0 victory to officially clinch the championship. The defeat proved to be one of the most painful results of Esperance’s season and intensified criticism from supporters.
Club Still Fighting for Continental Qualification
Despite the managerial change, Esperance’s season remains under threat.
The club are still battling to secure qualification for next season’s CAF Champions League, with only one round of league fixtures remaining.
Esperance currently sit second in the standings on 60 points, just one point ahead of Club Sportif Sfaxien, who remain in contention for a continental place.
In the final round of the league season, Esperance will travel to face US Ben Guerdane, while CS Sfaxien will host Étoile Sportive du Sahel in another crucial encounter.
Those matches are expected to determine which clubs secure qualification for Africa’s premier club competition next season.
Supporters Hope for a Fresh Start
The appointment of Christian Braconi signals the beginning of what Esperance supporters hope will be a period of rebuilding after one of the club’s most difficult campaigns in recent years.
The Club Bab Souika faithful are now looking to the new coaching setup to stabilise the team and prevent further disappointment before the season concludes.
For a club accustomed to competing for major domestic and continental honours, the coming weeks could prove decisive in shaping both the immediate future of the squad and the direction of the club ahead of next season.
