CAF Champions League: Sfaxien Look to Overturn Deficit in Maghreb Derby Against MC El Eulma
A tense and thrilling North African showdown awaits this Sunday as Tunisia’s Club Sportif Sfaxien hosts Algeria’s MC El Eulma in the second leg of the CAF Champions League round of 16. With the visitors holding a narrow 1-0 lead from the first leg, both sides are poised for a battle that could shape their continental ambitions.
CS Sfaxien, three-time winners of the CAF Confederation Cup, are eager to assert their pedigree and overturn the deficit in front of their home supporters. The Tunisian side struggled to find their rhythm in the first leg but hope to capitalise on the return fixture to book their place in the lucrative group stage.
“The squad is ready on all levels,” said CS Sfaxien’s Portuguese head coach, Paulo Duarte. “We are determined to find the right balance in our play and force the Algerians into making mistakes.”
Unlike their comfortable second-round progression past Togolese side Semassi, Sfaxien face a far sterner test in El Eulma—a team quickly establishing itself as the competition’s surprise package. The Algerian club has already knocked out Ethiopia’s Saint George and Ghanaian giants Asante Kotoko in earlier rounds, showcasing both resilience and ambition.
This is MC El Eulma’s maiden appearance in African interclub competition, and they now stand on the verge of an historic group-stage qualification. A draw on Sunday would be enough to see them through and continue what has already been a landmark campaign.
Still, with continental experience on their side and the home crowd behind them, CS Sfaxien will be desperate to ensure their journey doesn’t end early. Sunday’s match promises to be a fierce contest, where one team will advance—and the other’s dreams will be left behind in the North African dust.
