A Tight Battle Awaits CSS Against ESZ for a Spot in the Final

The Press - For the Sfaxians who narrowly missed out on the championship title and the second qualifying spot for the Champions League, making it to the final of the cup and lifting the trophy has become an unmissable objective. In Sfax, everyone is talking about it, and Mohamed Kouki and his team cannot remain insensitive to the expectations of their fans.

The quarterfinal match against SG showed the immense pressure weighing on the shoulders of Hamza Mathlouthi and his teammates. There was even a sense of psychosis in the Sfaxian camp, with an extreme focus on the result. This pressure was not easy to manage and eliminate, as evidenced by the qualification that was secured after 120 minutes of play that were not very spectacular in terms of offense and not very fertile in scoring opportunities.

While the qualification against SG in the quarters was not easy, the mission is expected to be even more complicated in the semis against ESZ, a more robust opponent with a complex system of play that is like a spider's web, with very reduced spaces and a counter-attacking game that is particularly daunting.

A Tactical Battle Ahead

Although playing at home and supported by their fans, CSS would commit a grave mistake if they relied too heavily on this advantage to approach this semifinal against the "Sang et Or" of Zarzis with excessive confidence and a sense of being safe from any unpleasant surprises.

ESZ, under the guidance of their new coach Mcharek, has gained solidity and delivered excellent performances on the road. Mohamed Kouki must therefore find solutions to create cracks in the Zarzisian block and win a tactical duel that will be extremely intense. The return of the foreign players, absent against SG, will allow him to present a more balanced setup between defensive work and offensive tasks.

With Kévin Mondeko, they will have three players defending in the middle. This formula will allow the two full-backs, Baccar and Derbali, to be more offensive. The midfield will also be more robust with Hasamadou Ouédraogo as a sentinel and Travis Mutyaba combining well with Ali Mâaloul and Mohamed Trabelsi.

Up front, there will be speed, with the possibility of seeing Iyed Belwafi enter the game to support Omar Ben Ali, in the absence of Emmanuel Ogbole who is injured. What is certain is that this battle for a spot in the final will be decided by a small detail and will favor the team that identifies the first weakness in their opponent's tactical setup to gain a decisive psychological advantage over the outcome of the game.