Espérance de Tunis Clinches Group Stage Berth with Dominant 3-0 Win Over Rahimo
26 October 2025
Match Result and Qualification
Espérance de Tunis secured a decisive 3-0 victory over Rahimo of Burkina Faso on Sunday at Hamadi Al-Arabi Stadium in Radès, advancing in the second leg of the CAF Champions League preliminary round. This win earns the "Oldest Club" a place in the group stage, making it Tunisia's sole representative at this phase.
The display was hardly a one-off: Espérance controlled the match from start to finish, building on their 1-0 win in the first leg and showing clear intent to seal qualification in front of their loyal fans. Hamza Jelassi opened the scoring in the first half, and Florian Danho doubled the lead in the 52nd minute. Ashraf El-Jabri completed the scoring in the 72nd minute, sealing a 3-0 victory on the night and a 4-0 aggregate triumph.
Context and Aftermath
This qualification provides a positive moment for Tunisian football, which has seen several teams struggle in recent African campaigns. Espérance now stands as the sole Tunisian club in the group stage of the CAF Champions League, while US Monastir, Étoile du Sahel, and Stade Tunisien have faced elimination in previous rounds.
Monastir was eliminated after back-to-back defeats to JS Kabylie, losing 3-0 in Sfax and 2-1 in Algiers. The broader Tunisian challenge underscores the need for a strong engine to lead the nation’s football presence in Africa, a role Espérance de Tunis now shoulders. Once their place in the group stage is secured, the club will turn its focus to the tougher phase ahead, assembling the full arsenal of talent and fitness required.
The CAF group-stage draw is scheduled for November 3 in Johannesburg, South Africa, where the four groups and potential opponents will be unveiled. Fans hope for a fair draw that could allow Espérance to challenge for the top spot, with the aim of restoring Tunisia's prestige among Africa's premier clubs. This qualification may mark the start of a new era for the country’s football giants on the continent.
