In conditions that were known in advance to be extremely challenging, Espérance de Tunis were held to a 1–1 draw by ES Métlaoui this Wednesday afternoon at the stade municipal de Métlaoui, in the rescheduled match of Ligue 1’s 21st round.
With numerous absences, a nearly unplayable pitch, and above all a 1:00 p.m. kick-off during the month of Ramadan, no one realistically expected a high-quality contest. The intense heat and the physical demands of fasting weighed heavily on players already coping with a relentless match schedule. The context was clear, and so was the difficulty.
Despite all that, the Blood and Gold made a strong start, clearly intent on deciding the match early in order to avoid prolonged physical strain. As early as the 6th minute, Diarra was presented with a huge chance but missed the target, finding the side netting. Eight minutes later, Hamza Rafia delivered a perfect pass to Diarra, who somehow failed to convert from point-blank range—an opportunity that should have changed the scoreline.
After that promising opening quarter-hour, ES Métlaoui gradually grew into the game. In the 30th minute, Senegalese midfielder Bodian tried his luck, but his effort was off target. Six minutes later, Hamza Mansri also missed the frame, marking Metlaoui’s second attempt. What was more concerning for Esperance was the drop in attacking intensity, far removed from their energetic start.
Half-time arrived with the score still at 0–0. The heat was oppressive, the players visibly dehydrated—a cruel test of endurance, bordering more on survival than football.
After the break, Esperance came back with renewed determination, pushing hard to score as quickly as possible. In the 51st minute, Keita missed a clear chance as the goal began to “heat up.” The breakthrough finally came three minutes later: Keita delivered a cross toward Tka at the near post, the ball slipped past both Tka and the goalkeeper, and Jabri, alert at the far post, tapped it in to open the scoring. 0–1, a deserved reward for Esperance’s efforts.
ES Métlaoui, however, refused to give up. From the 70th minute onward, the hosts pushed forward in search of an equaliser. In the 74th minute, right-back Raed Fedaâ broke into the box, Ibrahima Keita challenged him, and the referee immediately pointed to the penalty spot. Two minutes later, Chérif Bodian calmly converted, restoring parity at 1–1.
In the closing stages, Esperance threw everything forward in an attempt to regain the lead. The intent was there, but fatigue, haste, and a lack of sharpness prevented a decisive blow. In stoppage time, Aboubacar Diakité came agonisingly close to snatching victory, but his two headed efforts lacked the necessary accuracy. The score remained unchanged.
With this draw, Esperance de Tunis remain top of the league with 47 points, holding a two-point lead over Club Africain. No new injuries were reported, which is perhaps the most important takeaway given the extreme conditions. Recovery will now be crucial, as another demanding fixture awaits in just three days’ time in Béja—once again under conditions that can only be described as inhumane.
EST Lineup: Memmiche, Keita, Ben Hamida(c), Jelassi, Guenichi, Ogbelu, Tka, Rafia (Hadj-Ali 72'), Konaté, Diarra (Diakité 63') and Jabri (Jebali 63').
Booking: Keita.