CAF Champions League: Espernace request 35,000 tickets for fans ahead of Al Ahly clash

Tunisian authorities have cleared the way for a large turnout of Esperance Sportive de Tunis supporters for the first leg of their CAF Champions League quarter-final against Al-Ahly.

The match is scheduled for Sunday, March 15, at Hammadi Yaakoubi Stadium in Rades.

According to Tunisian media outlet Al-Sabah, Esperance requested 35,000 tickets for the fixture, and security officials have approved the full allocation.

A security and organizational meeting is set for Monday, March 9, in Ben Arous to finalize arrangements and ensure fan safety.

To prevent overcrowding, the club is considering online ticket sales, as subscriber numbers have already surpassed 22,000, while just 9,000 tickets are currently available for purchase.

For the return leg in Cairo, Esperance confirmed that the match will be held behind closed doors at Cairo International Stadium on Saturday, March 21, at 9:00 PM local time.

The decision follows a directive from the CAF Disciplinary Committee, meaning fans will not be permitted to attend the second-leg clash.