Struggling to Keep Up in the Championship, ESS Puts All Hopes on the CAF Cup
The ESS is now lagging behind in the championship and has only the CAF Cup to salvage a compromised season. The team, also known as the Etoilés, must therefore deliver a perfect match to eliminate Nairobi United.
Coach Nafkha's Strategy
To meet the challenge of the afternoon match, coach Mohamed Ali Nafkha will choose strong players who can surpass themselves. The return of Ghofrane Naouali in defense, Sabri Ben Hassen in goal, Gbo, Ben Maâzouz, and possibly Dagdoug (if he is cleared to play) should bring some reassurance. The ESS needs all its competitive players at this critical point in the season.
Restructuring the Team
However, the head of the football section, Saber Ben Fradj, has emphasized the need to streamline the team, which is currently experiencing a quality deficit. As a result, the Étoile Sportive du Sahel has begun its summer recruitment selection process. The first player to be affected is Alassane Diao, who has been disappointing and is expected to leave on a one-season loan to Al Madina in Libya. The same fate awaits Uché Goodlad, Mohamed Aziz Jebali, Mohamed Kanté, Malek Baayou, and other summer recruits who will be released.
Today's Match and Lineup
Coach Mohamed Ali Nafkha is expected to field the best possible team. In goal, Ben Hassen will naturally retake his position, especially since Gazzah has been disappointing. In defense, Nassim Hnid will need to bounce back after a poor performance against OB. Ghedamsi, Naouali, and Omija are expected to complete the defensive quartet. Further up the field, all eyes will be on the attack and the animation that comes with it.
An Attack-Minded Lineup
After four consecutive matches without a single attacker scoring, the attack is expected to turn things around. This is because the two goals scored in the last four matches, courtesy of Ben Mazouz and Bouslama, were scored by midfielders. Chaâbaní, Dhaoui, Senghor, and to a lesser extent Aouani and Anan, must therefore step up and reverse the trend, just like they did in the past during the 2015-2020 period, with compromised qualifications against APR of Rwanda and Ashanti Kotoko of Ghana in 2019.
