The first match under the guidance of Skander Kasri, following the departure of Miguel Cardoso, was eagerly anticipated by the blood-and-gold supporters, who hoped for a revival in both play and results. Despite clear dominance and numerous chances, Esperance de Tunis failed to break down the CA Bizertin defense and had to settle for a goalless draw. A difficult result to accept given the one-sided nature of the match.
Right from the kickoff, CAB proved to be threatening. In the first minute, Memmiche, the Esperance goalkeeper, pulled off a fantastic save to prevent a certain goal, demonstrating that the evening would not be easy for either side. In response, Esperance quickly took control of the game, searching for weaknesses in the Bizertin defense. In the 15th minute, Tka found himself in a prime position in front of goal after a fine team move, but the opposing goalkeeper, Krir, made a brilliant save to deny the first real threat.
Faced with a well-organized defensive block, the Blood and Gold often resorted to long-range shots, as Tka attempted in the 23rd minute, but his effort sailed well over the crossbar. The dominance continued, and Azouni, from a corner in the 38th minute, came close to opening the scoring with a header that narrowly missed the target. Just before halftime, Bouchniba also tried his luck from distance, but Krir was well-positioned to maintain his clean sheet. At the break, the score remained frustratingly 0-0, despite Esperance's almost total control of the game.
For the second half, Skander Kasri decided to strengthen his attacking sector by introducing the two Brazilians, Sasse and Rodrigues, hoping to unsettle the Bizertin defense. But while Esperance pressed forward, they left spaces at the back, allowing CAB to be dangerous on the counter-attack. In the 60th minute, Ahmed Amri forced Memmiche into another magnificent save.
The tension grew as the minutes ticked by. In the 69th minute, Esperance came close to scoring when Belaïli's shot was cleared off the line by a Bizertin defender. The Blood and Gold increased the pressure, but luck seemed to be against them. The clearest chance came in the 80th minute: Sasse was brought down in the box, and a penalty was awarded. Meriah, usually reliable from the spot, missed his attempt, striking the crossbar.
In the final minutes, Esperance redoubled their efforts to snatch victory. Sasse tried his luck in stoppage time, but Krir, imperious throughout the match, saved his team from defeat. In the 90+3rd minute, a spectacular overhead kick from Tougaï was once again thwarted by the Bizertin goalkeeper, who produced a memorable performance.
The final whistle blew on a 0-0 scoreline, a source of frustration for Esperance de Tunis, who left with only a point despite clear dominance. This match, marked by an inspired opposing goalkeeper and obvious bad luck, left a bitter taste for players and supporters alike.
EST lineup: Memmiche, Bouchniba, Ben Hamida, Meriah (c), Tougaï, Azouni (Jelassi 76'), Tka, Zaddem (Ayeb 59'), Mokwana (Sasse 46'), Belaïli (Bouguerra 76') and Sowe (Rodrigues 46').