Espérance Sportive de Tunis have officially refused the away ticket allocation granted by Al-Swehly SC for the first leg of the CAF Champions League second preliminary round, this Sunday 18 October 2026 in Misrata. Algerian forward Youcef Belaïli is among the key men expected to feature.
The CAF Champions League file has spilled off the pitch. Before travelling to Libya, the Bab Souika club went public with a statement formalising its outright refusal of the away ticket allocation granted by the Libyan side.
According to Espérance Time, relayed by Foot Africa, the Tunisian hierarchy considers the number of places allocated to its supporters clearly insufficient given the demand. The club has therefore chosen not to distribute this allocation.
A question of equality between supporters
In its statement, Espérance justifies its decision by the reduced capacity of the stadium in Misrata. “The club considers the number of places allocated insufficient and wishes to guarantee equality between its supporters,” reads the official text relayed by Espérance Time. Refusing the allocation thus amounts to favouring no group of fans in a venue with limited capacity.
This firmness over ticketing does not prevent institutional courtesy: Espérance praised the security measures taken by Al-Swehly SC for the reception of its official delegation, according to Foot Africa.
A twelfth qualification in their sights
On the sporting side, Espérance are targeting a 12th consecutive qualification for the group stage of the African Champions League. It is no foregone conclusion: the double header against the Libyans is the first step of the journey, and a slip-up in Misrata would complicate the equation before the return leg.
For their part, Al-Swehly SC see this draw as an unprecedented opportunity: to reach the group stage of Africa’s premier club competition for the very first time in their history.
In attack, Youcef Belaïli is among the key men expected for this double header, according to Foot Africa.
Radès as the judge of peace
The return leg is scheduled for the following weekend, 24 or 25 October 2026, at the Stade Olympique de Radès, according to Foot Africa. A second leg at home where the question of supporters could arise again, in a different venue.
Espérance have also formally declined any legal and logistical responsibility for Tunisian supporters travelling by their own means or through travel agencies, according to Foot Africa. The Libyan ticketing file therefore remains open.