Beaten 0-1 in the first leg in Misrata, Espérance de Tunis qualified for the CAF Champions League group stage by beating Al-Swehly 1-0 in Radès, then 3-1 on penalties, thanks to their goalkeeper Béchir Ben Saïd.
The Hammadi-Agrebi stadium in Radès was rocking on Saturday 24 October. A goal from Imed Farraj as early as the 8th minute was enough for Espérance de Tunis to make up their deficit against Al-Swehly in the second leg of the CAF Champions League second preliminary round, according to Tunisie Numérique. With regulation time ending 1-0, the two teams were level on aggregate over the two legs (1-1).
The penalty shootout went the way of the Sang et Or, 3-1 winners, thanks in particular to the decisive saves of Béchir Ben Saïd, the Espérance goalkeeper. The Tunisian club will therefore play in the group stage.
A missed first leg in Misrata
Six days earlier, in Libya, Espérance had gone down 0-1 in Misrata. The only goal of the match was converted by Ayoub Ayed from the penalty spot in the 63rd minute, according to FAAPA. The Tunisians therefore went into the return leg with a one-goal handicap.
For this clash, Pablo Franco, the Espérance coach, had to do without Youcef Belaïli, the Algerian international forward who was suspended, La Presse de Tunisie reports. The match, refereed by the Moroccan Jalal Jayed, was broadcast live on the national channel Télévision Tunisienne 1 (Watania 1).
Ben Saïd delivers
The score did not change until the final whistle, and qualification came down to penalties. In that exercise, Béchir Ben Saïd produced the save at the crucial moment. His stops allowed Espérance to win the shootout 3-1, according to Tunisie Numérique.
Al-Swehly, who had nevertheless taken the advantage in the first leg, are eliminated.
A 24th appearance, and then?
This qualification confirms, according to La Presse de Tunisie and Tunisie Numérique, Espérance de Tunis’s 24th participation in the CAF Champions League group stage. The Tunisian club would thus become the sole holder of the all-time record, ahead of Egypt’s Al Ahly.
In terms of honours, Espérance have won the CAF Champions League four times, in 1994, 2011, 2018 and 2019, according to La Presse de Tunisie. Pablo Franco’s side thus return to the continental stage, this time in the group-stage format.
The draw for the 2026-2027 CAF Champions League group stage is scheduled, with the competition set to begin on 27 November 2026.