The "Blood and Gold" Have Enough Experience to Take a Good Option in Ouagadougou
The Press — As in the previous round when they faced the Nigerien Armed Forces Sports Association, Espérance inherited, in this second preliminary round of the Champions League, an unknown opponent on the continental scene, namely the Burkinabé team Rahimo. The opponent of the day for the "Blood and Gold" is not a illustrious team in the Champions League. Far from it! It's even a recent club, founded just 13 years ago, in 2012. It's only their second participation in the African C1 after a first experience during the 2019-2020 season. A participation that they owe to their coronation as champions of the Burkinabé league. Six years later, Rahimo FC is once again champion of Burkina Faso, which opens the doors of Africa to them once again. For Espérance de Tunis, only the climate conditions will be a handicap, to which they are nevertheless accustomed. The thermometer will rise this afternoon to 35°C with a humidity level of around 47%.
These Imposed Choices
In Niamey, during the first leg of the first preliminary round, the technical staff was deprived of the services of the team's dynamo, Youssef Belaïli, which did not prevent them from taking a good option by winning largely with three goals to zero. The Algerian left winger will also be absent today due to injury, as well as Yan Sasse, Mohamed Amine Tougaï, Mohamed Ben Ali, and Yassine Meriah. This is a lot of absent players at once, but the squad at Maher Kanzari's disposal is rich enough to meet his expectations, even when the infirmary is not completely empty. As a reminder, Mohamed Amine Ben Hmida, who was injured in Niamey, has resumed service and is with the group in Ouagadougou. He will have to regain his place on the left flank of the defense. This compartment will also undergo another change in the central axis due to the absence of the Tougaï-Meriah duo. The central hinge will be occupied by the Jelassi-Guenichi pair. On the right flank of the defense, Raed Bouchniba and Ibrahima Keita are in competition to replace Mohamed Ben Ali. Kouceila Boualia will replace Yan Sasse on the right wing, and Abdramane Konaté will replace Youssef Belaïli on the left. At the tip of the attack, the "Blood and Gold" coach will have a valid solution in the person of Florian Danho, who is qualified from this round and should logically start the match. Achref Jabri will have to be incorporated into the game in progress. Note that Elyas Bouzaïene is part of the trip to Ouagadougou. Will he be used by Maher Kanzari? A question that many supporters and observers are asking.
