Espérance Sportive de Tunis salvaged their domestic season by defeating Espérance Sportive de Zarzis 1-0 to win the 2025-26 Tunisian Cup in a tense and controversial final at Hammadi Agrebi Stadium in Radès.
The victory provided a much-needed positive ending for the Bab Souika side after they lost the Tunisian league title to fierce rivals Club Africain earlier in the campaign.
For Esperance de Tunis, the cup final represented an opportunity to restore pride and deliver silverware to supporters after a season filled with pressure and fluctuating performances.
Meanwhile, Esperance de Zarzis entered the match hoping to achieve a historic breakthrough by lifting the Tunisian Cup for the first time in the club’s history.
The opening stages of the final were marked by caution from both teams, although Zarzis appeared slightly more aggressive early on. Their high-tempo approach caused problems for the Esperance defence during the first half, but the experience of the Tunis club gradually began to show as the match progressed.
By the closing moments of the first period, Esperance de Tunis had created two dangerous opportunities that nearly broke the deadlock, signalling a growing shift in momentum.
The second half saw the eventual winners increase the intensity of their attacking play and establish clearer control over possession and territory.
Brazilian player Danho became increasingly influential in forward areas, repeatedly troubling the Zarzis defence and helping Esperance sustain pressure around the penalty area.
The decisive moment arrived in the 61st minute when Hamza Rafia struck a powerful shot into the net to score what proved to be the winning goal.
However, the strike immediately triggered fierce protests from the Esperance de Zarzis players and coaching staff, who argued that goalkeeper Saifeddine Charfi had been fouled moments before the ball crossed the line.
Tensions quickly escalated on the pitch as members of the Zarzis bench confronted referee Nidal Latif over the decision. The protests led to further disruption, with two members of the Zarzis coaching staff shown red cards during the chaotic scenes.
The controversy was eventually reviewed by the Video Assistant Referee system, which upheld the goal after examining the incident.
Zarzis then suffered another setback when goalkeeper Charfi was forced off injured in the 68th minute. He was replaced by Hamza Ghanmi as the underdogs attempted to recover from both the goal and the emotional impact of the protests.
In the closing stages, Esperance de Zarzis pushed forward in search of an equaliser, but Esperance de Tunis relied on disciplined defending and their greater experience to preserve the lead until the final whistle.
The triumph adds another trophy to Esperance de Tunis’ extensive collection and reinforces the club’s reputation for responding strongly during difficult periods.
Although defeated, Esperance de Zarzis earned praise for their impressive cup run and competitive performance in the final, having pushed one of Tunisia’s biggest clubs until the closing moments of the match.
For Esperance de Tunis, the victory ultimately transformed a difficult campaign into one ending with silverware, with Hamza Rafia’s decisive goal becoming the defining moment of a dramatic final.
