Esperance Sportive de Tunis suffered a double setback in the African Champions League after losing 1-0 to Libya’s Al-Suwaihli in the first leg of their second preliminary-round tie, with Algerian forward Youcef Belaïli sent off after the final whistle.
The four-time African champions were beaten at Misrata International Stadium by a penalty from Tunisian forward Ayoub Ayad in the 64th minute. Belaïli’s dismissal compounded the defeat, leaving Esperance facing the prospect of being without one of their key attacking players for the return fixture.
The result puts pressure on the Tunisian side ahead of next Saturday’s second leg, which is scheduled to take place at the Hamadi Agrebi Stadium in Radès on 24 October 2026.
Esperance must now find a way to overturn the deficit and keep their hopes of reaching the group stage alive, while also dealing with the consequences of Belaïli’s red card.
Belaïli’s dismissal deepens Esperance’s concerns
The Algerian winger was shown a red card by Congolese referee Jean-Pierre N’Gian after becoming involved in heated protests and verbal exchanges with the officiating team at the end of the match.
The incident followed a disappointing night for Esperance, whose defeat had already left them under pressure going into the return leg. Belaïli’s reaction added a disciplinary problem to the team’s difficulties on the pitch.
His absence could be a significant concern for the coaching staff as they prepare for the decisive encounter in Tunisia. Esperance need to produce a stronger attacking performance to overturn the first-leg result, but the dismissal threatens to deprive them of an important option in that effort.
The defeat has also increased scrutiny of the team’s performance, with supporters hoping for a response in front of their home crowd.
Esperance will need to address the weaknesses exposed in Misrata while preparing for a match in which the margin for error is limited. Their immediate priority is to recover from the loss and build a performance capable of securing progression to the next stage.
Esperance face a difficult second leg
The return match will take place at the Hamadi Agrebi Stadium in Radès, near the Tunisian capital, on Saturday, 24 October.
Having lost the opening encounter 1-0, Esperance need to win by at least two goals to secure qualification for the group stage without relying on a penalty shoot-out.
The task leaves little room for another disappointing performance. A failure to overturn the deficit would bring their campaign to a premature end, despite the club’s history of success in the competition.
Esperance’s supporters will be expecting the team to respond after the defeat in Libya, but the coaching staff must find the right balance between attacking with greater urgency and avoiding further defensive mistakes.
The team will also have to prepare for the possibility of facing the second leg without Belaïli, depending on the disciplinary consequences of his dismissal.
Al-Suwaihli target historic progress
Al-Suwaihli, meanwhile, will travel to Tunisia with a narrow advantage after securing victory on home soil.
The Libyan club, coached by Hamadi Al-Qawiri, will aim to protect that lead and continue its African campaign by reaching the group stage.
Ayoub Ayad’s second-half penalty proved decisive in the first meeting, giving Al-Suwaihli a valuable result ahead of the return fixture.
The Libyan side will know that the tie remains open, with Esperance having the opportunity to respond on home ground. However, the hosts’ victory has put them in a favourable position as they seek to advance in the competition.
For Esperance, the challenge is now twofold: overturn the deficit and manage the impact of Belaïli’s dismissal. Their response in Radès will determine whether they can recover from a difficult night in Misrata and keep their hopes of continental success alive.
