Espérance de Tunis lost 1-0 to Al-Suwaihli in Misrata in the first leg of the CAF Champions League second preliminary round. After the final whistle, Espérance’s Algerian international forward Youcef Belaïli was sent off, and he will miss the return leg.
Espérance Sportive de Tunis fell on the pitch of the Misrata International Stadium, beaten 1-0 by Libya’s Al-Suwaihli in the first leg of the second preliminary round of the CAF Champions League. A setback in itself, but the evening took an even darker turn in the minutes after regulation time.
According to Foot Afrique, Algerian international forward Youcef Belaïli was sent off with a straight red card after the final whistle, at the end of a heated protest against the decisions of Congolese referee Jean-Pierre Ngien. A dismissal that already deprives the Tunis club of its attacking playmaker for the return leg.
A penalty from Ayoub Ayad
On the pitch, the only goal of the match was scored in the 64th minute by Ayoub Ayad, the Tunisian attacking midfielder of Al-Suwaihli, from the penalty spot. Espérance could not find a way through against the Libyans and return from Misrata with a one-goal deficit to overturn.
Although the score remained 1-0, the post-match was more heated than the game itself. Belaïli became involved in a tense verbal altercation with the refereeing team, which earned him the straight red card once the whistle had gone.
Back at ES Tunis, a return under tension
For the 34-year-old forward, this dismissal comes as he had returned to Espérance after a season at Mouloudia d’Alger. According to Foot Afrique, he is suspended for the decisive return leg.
As a team, Espérance are chasing qualification for the group stage of the CAF Champions League, as reported by Sport News Africa. The Tunis club will have to overturn a one-goal deficit in Radès, without their attacking playmaker, according to Foot Afrique.
A decisive Saturday in Radès
The return leg between Espérance and Al-Suwaihli is scheduled for Saturday 24 October 2026, according to Sport News Africa. Only a few days after the first leg, the Tunis club will have no time to digest their Libyan evening.
Ayoub Ayad, scorer of the only goal of the match, plays for Al-Suwaihli, the opponents Espérance will meet again in Radès as they try to qualify.