Same Mistakes Repeated in Recent Away Matches
The season has ended on a sour note for ESS with another collapse in Sfax. This has resulted in a record-low ranking, last seen in the 1991-1992 season when the Sahelian club finished 9th. The match in Sfax exposed all the weaknesses of a team that has been far off the mark and out of its league this season. Against CSS, a disappointing first half ended with a crushing 3-0 defeat, a consolation goal in the final minutes scored by Abid, who has a penchant for scoring against CSS, and a sense of resignation at every away match. After Béja, Métlaoui, and Zarzis, ESS has conceded over 11 goals in 4 matches, accounting for a third of the 30 goals conceded in 30 matches. This translates to a strict average of one goal conceded per match. This is far too many for a defense that is struggling match after match.
Adding the elimination in the Cup, which resulted in 5 defeats in the last 7 matches, the total number of goals conceded is 15. Complete relaxation and complete resignation are evident, with the last match ending in a disappointing manner, especially in the first half. The team change, with Diawara and Bouzaabia starting, did not make a difference, given the absence of Gbo and Ben Choug in the returning lineup. Another away match was missed.
ESS coach Mohamed Ali Nafkha, who is still unsure about his future at the club, expressed his disappointment: "The end of the season was disappointing, with many bad circumstances. We didn't start the match well and conceded an early goal. We tried to come back and scored, but it wasn't enough...". Far from being enough for a scenario that has unfortunately repeated itself at every away match in the final stretch of the season.
A season marked by chronic instability in the technical staff, which has changed at an alarming rate.
5 Coaches in One Season
With 11 defeats in the championship and 14 overall, ESS has had one of the worst seasons in its history, with 4 changes in coaches. With Dridi, Nafkha, a brief stint by Mkacher, Afouane Gharbi, and Nafkha again, fans of the club have been treated to all the surprises, one worse than the other. Another peculiar aspect of the 11 defeats in the championship is that CA, OB, and CSS have beaten ESS both home and away. Now, the date of Saturday, May 30, 2026, with the elective assembly, will mark a new turning point in the club's history, as it will have to project itself onto a turbulent next season.
