Club Africain supporters have singled out three players for criticism following their 2-1 defeat by Stade Tunisien, a result that has increased pressure on coach Maher Kanzari and left the Tunisian side further behind in the league title race.
The defeat came in a postponed fixture from the third round of the Tunisian Professional League One and was Club Africain’s second consecutive loss, following their 3-2 setback against Club Bizertin in the previous round.
Defenders Yassine Bouabid and Ismaila Simpara, alongside forward Ghassan Al-Mahersi, were among those who attracted the strongest criticism from supporters after the match in Bardo.
The performance of the team’s defensive line was a particular source of frustration, with fans questioning the individual contributions of Bouabid and Simpara during a match in which Club Africain struggled to contain their opponents.
Bouabid and Simpara criticised for defensive display
Tunisian defender Yassine Bouabid emerged as one of the main targets of supporters’ frustration after what many considered an underwhelming performance.
Discussions on Club Africain fan pages questioned his technical ability and highlighted mistakes that, in the view of some supporters, disrupted the organisation of the team’s defence.
Some fans also held him partly responsible for the goals conceded against Stade Tunisien, arguing that his performance fell short of what was required in such an important fixture.
Bouabid was not the only defender to come under scrutiny. Ismaila Simpara also faced criticism over his display, particularly his handling of several defensive situations.
Supporters questioned whether he had done enough to help his team-mates deal with the opposition’s attacking threat, adding to concerns about the overall effectiveness of Club Africain’s back line.
Al-Mahersi also comes under fire
The third player to attract significant attention was Ghassan Al-Mahersi, who was criticised for failing to make the expected contribution during the defeat.
His performance, alongside those of Bouabid and Simpara, placed him among the players held accountable by sections of the Club Africain fanbase after another disappointing result.
The criticism comes at a difficult moment for the club, whose supporters had been hoping for an immediate response following the defeat by Club Bizertin.
Instead, the loss to Stade Tunisien has raised further questions about the team’s consistency and its ability to remain competitive against the leading sides in the division.
Kanzari faces pressure as Club Africain slip to fifth
The latest setback leaves Kanzari with important decisions to make, particularly regarding his defensive arrangements and the individual performances of his players.
The coach is expected to review his tactical choices as the team prepare for their upcoming fixtures, with supporters demanding an improvement in performance and fewer costly individual errors.
The defeat has also affected Club Africain’s position in the league standings. Their points tally remains at 12, leaving them fifth in the table.
Stade Tunisien, meanwhile, move above their opponents into fourth place with 13 points following the victory.
The change in the standings adds to the pressure on Club Africain, who cannot afford to continue dropping points if they are to remain in contention for the leading positions.
With consecutive defeats now raising concerns among their supporters, the response in the coming matches will be important for Kanzari and his squad as they look to recover their form and prevent further damage to their league campaign.
