Esperance qualified for the 2011 Fifa Club World Cup after winning their first African champions' crown since 1994

CMC 2011

Esperance plan Afful fright for Barcelona

Barcelona are unlikely to be quaking in their signatured boots but Tunisia's Esperance plan to give the Spanish giants a torrid time at the Club World Cup in Japan.

The African champions must first beat Qatar's Al Sadd in their quarter-final on Sunday before launching an attempted ambush of Barca in Yokohama on 15 December.

But Ghana defender Harrison Afful, who scored a thumping left-foot rocket to win the African Champions League for Esperance last month, said the team feared no one.

"Nothing is impossible. I keep on watching my goal over and over again on my computer," said the full-back, recalling his screamer against Wydad Casablanca," Afful told Fifa.com.

"I can hardly recognise myself because I'm not used to scoring goals. I'm more of a provider.

"I never get tired of watching my team mates congratulate me and hearing the Tunisian commentator go wild."

Al Sadd are likely to provide stubborn opposition in the quarter-finals but Afful, who was left out of Ghana's World Cup squad last year, believes Esperance could go far in Japan.

"We want to go to Japan and put in some good performances," said the 25-year-old, whose goal made Esperance kings of Africa for a second time, 17 years on from their first triumph.

"It won't be easy for us, but with the ability we've got, I can tell you, we're capable of going a long way in this competition."

Barcelona fly to Japan straight after a top-of-the-table 'Clasico' showdown with bitter rivals Real Madrid at the weekend but are still favourites to win the seven-team Club World Cup.

The Catalan giants, winners in 2009 in Abu Dhabi and beaten finalists in 2006 in Japan, and Brazilian side Santos, join the competition at the semi-finals stage next week.

Esperance's African triumphs

2011 Champions League
1998 Cup Winners Cup
1997 Caf Cup
1995 African Super Cup
1994 African Champions Cup