Club Africain Travels to Ben Guerdane with Morale at Its Peak
La Presse – With a carefree, resolutely attacking style, everything is currently going right for Club Africain, which has already scored eight goals in two matches. Gathered on the pitch with defenders who push forward and attackers who track back, the CA is performing, and Faouzi Benzarti’s side has never seemed as united and generous as it does at this precise moment.
In short, the “dolphin” spot (the coveted second place) is still within reach; the CA hasn’t seized it yet, and as appetite grows with each bite, the team naturally craves more. As for the club’s coach – a true winner – he refuses to be dogmatic. Match after match he has generally given the squad a fairly free framework, handing the keys to his players.
- Zaâlouni bursts forward as a striker to score.
- Shili morphs from a false winger into a supporting forward.
- Ben Abda erupts down the flank.
- Khadhraoui returns to work hard.
- Harzi and Ait Malek juggle multiple “functions on the field.”
If the CA has evolved and progressed in any area, it is in the players’ willingness to take initiative, regardless of the inevitable fluctuations in form.
A Balanced Collective with Game‑Changing Individuals
This CA also boasts individuals capable of making a difference, both starters and substitutes, such as Firas Chawat, Oussema Bouguerra, Sadok Kadida, and Fahd Mesmari. In his own way, Faouzi Benzarti is building a beautiful team – an eleven that can even improve as the season goes on.
What sets this season apart from previous ones is the trust relationship that has been established. In plain terms, the coach believes in his players and his squad: a youthful core (Sadok Mahmoud, Sadok Kadida, and Alain Kanté), experienced heads (Zemzemi, Oussema Shrimi, Harzi, Ben Abda, Kinzumbi, Ait Malek, and Shili), and reliable alternatives (Srarfi, Ghaïth Sghaïer, and Fahd Mesmari).
By favoring a flexible tactical approach, the staff has reaped the benefits of creativity and player initiative, adapting to the specifics of each situation and each opponent.
Firas Chawat Suspended
Today, while Benzarti’s style may appear unpredictable and sometimes criticized for a lack of consistency, the results so far speak in his favour. Key points of his contribution are numerous: tactical flexibility, offensive play, influence on the squad, a generous work ethic, and the ability to adapt to different contexts – whether at USM, ESS, EST, or now CA.
In short, even if his style varies, the numerical pre‑assessment backs him up, and that’s what counts in football.
The New Mission: Facing US Ben Guerdane in Ben Guerdane
A completely different challenge awaits Faouzi Benzarti’s CA in Ben Guerdane, where US Ben Guerdane (USBG) intends to pull a double‑header: defeat the “dolphin” club and climb the league table.
Because of a suspension for accumulating warnings, the technical staff will not be able to count on striker Firas Chawat for this match. Apart from the offensive midfielder Sadok Mahmoud, who will soon be at 100 % fitness, the coach can rely on almost the entire squad.
Expected Line‑up (with minor tweaks from the ESM victory)
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Left flank: Oussema Shili (replacing Mouhib Chamekh)
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Right flank: Ghaïth Zaâlouni
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Central axis: Hamza Ben Abda – Yassine Bouabid (maintained)
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Midfield:
- Moataz Zemzemi (central)
- Aymen Harzi (left‑midfield)
- Bilel Ait Malek (hybrid midfield role)
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Additional midfield options from the start: sentinel Saidou Khan and “piston” Oussema Shrimi
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Attack:
- Hamza Khadhraoui (left wing)
- Oussema Bouguerra (center) – with Kinzumbi also possible on the right wing
- Sadok Kadida (striker)
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Bench / alternatives: Alain Kanté, Fahd Mesmari, Ghaïth Sghaïer, Bassem Srarfi, Houssem Ben Ali, and Taoufik Cherifi, ready to step in when called upon.
Further Reading
Ligue 1: Where to Follow US Ben Guerdane – Club Africain Today?
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