Esperance leak line-up to Tunisian papers

Football | CAF Champions League

 

 

Esperance have named their line-up for Saturday’s African Champions League clash against Orlando Pirates, putting out a strong line-up with just one injury setback for the semifinal first leg tie.
Tunisia newspapers on Saturday reported coach Maher Kanzari was optimistic about the outcome of the game at the Orlando Stadium (kick off 6pm) where Esperance seek a positive result to make their task at home in the return leg a lot easier.
"Every game has its own unique characteristics and we have been through all the possible scenarios,” Kanzari was quoted as saying.

“The Champions League final is our first goal and qualifying for it starts in Johannesburg. We are especially ready for the game as we well know Orlando Pirates are an opponent to be respected."
Esperance will field Tunisian international Moez Ben Cherifia in the goal but have changed the defence after conceding two goals in last weekend in the Tunisia league against arch rivals Etoile Sahel.

The coach wanted to restore his regular back four but Algerian international Antar Yahia, who previously played in the Bundesliga, is not fit and replaced by Mohamed Ali Ben Mansour. The other three across the back are Sameh Derbali, Khalil Chammam and Chamseddine Dhaouadi, all named by Ruud Krol in midweek in Tunisia’s squad for their World Cup qualifier against Cameroon.
The defensive midfielders will be Khaled Mouelhi and Houcine Ragued, who are also in the Tunisia squad, with Ghana’s Harrison Afful in a much more forward role to his usual position at fullback. Kanzari will use the mercurial Ossama Darragi as his playmaker and field his usual front pair of Cameroon import Yannick N'Djeng and Youssef Blaïli, the press said.