A Promising Performance from Etoile
For once, the defense has fulfilled its contract by closing all avenues, thanks to a rediscovered Hnid. A good omen ahead of tomorrow's match against Ahli Wad Medani...
A Strong Start
La Presse — This time, Etoile has started the match strongly, earning an early lead and a numerical advantage with the opponent's red card. The goal-scoring action at 3 minutes, involving Anan, Bah, and Senghor, demonstrates what ESS can do when confident.
An Unconventional Lineup
Mohamed Ali Nafkha has not been shy in making changes to his lineup, with Al Qalib's first start and Yassine Chaâbani replacing Diao. Anan and Senghor have been retained in the attack. In defense, there have been changes with Khadhraoui's absence and the return of Nessim Hnid and Omar Bah. Ben Choug and Ouertani have been preferred to Chouchane in midfield. Nafkha made five changes during the match, with Bouslama, Ben Maâzouz, and Goodlad Uche making appearances.
A Drop in Pace
The pace of the game has drastically slowed down, especially in the second half, without explanation. The double substitution of Senghor with Aouani and Al Qalib with Ben Maâzouz has revitalized the team's performance, bringing fresh energy. The second goal was not long in coming.
Missed Opportunities
Anan, who could have cemented his reputation with a personal goal, missed a penalty at the hour mark, which could have sealed the win. This is the third missed penalty in two matches for Etoile, with Senghor and Anan previously missing against Omrane and Gabès, respectively. It seems that there is a psychological barrier to overcome in these situations. The lack of confidence has been evident in the players' minds during critical moments in the match.
A Glimmer of Hope
There have been many post-match declarations, breaking the silence that surrounded the team during previous encounters. Coach Mohamed Ali Nafkha has realistically conveyed the team's mindset during the match: "We obtained the three points with style. We tried to make things easier for ourselves from the start, and we succeeded, especially with the opponent's early red card. We tried to manage the game with changes, thinking about the important match on Saturday (against Ahli Wad Madani)."
Saber Ben Fredj, the new head of the football section, has announced the upcoming recruitment of a high-ranking coach, possibly next week, to take over the first team after Nafkha's interim period. Names like Imed Ben Younès and Nasreddine Nabi have been mentioned, but nothing official has been confirmed yet.
Noureddine Al Qalib, who had a good game in midfield, expressed his satisfaction: "There is the satisfaction of the three points earned. There was fatigue from the return from Tanzania, which must be taken into account, but we will be up to the expectations of Etoile's supporters in the upcoming matches." This message has rekindled hope among the team's fans.
