CS Sfaxien faced a 2-1 defeat against Libya’s Al-Akhdar Sports Club in a friendly match held to celebrate the reopening of Al-Akhdar’s Al-Wadi Al-Kabir stadium, which had been closed for 14 years. The Tunisian side’s loss came as Al-Akhdar marked the occasion with a strong showing on home soil, capitalizing on early goals and holding their ground despite CS Sfaxien’s efforts to equalize.
The match unfolded with Senegalese forward Pape Abdou N’diaye and Angolan winger Ary Papel putting Al-Akhdar in a commanding position, netting goals to give the Libyan club a 2-0 lead.
CS Sfaxien responded through Baraket El Hmidi, who managed to reduce the deficit, yet ultimately fell short of securing a draw in the celebratory fixture.
CS Sfaxien’s head coach, Alexandre Santos, took advantage of the friendly to implement strategic rotations, giving both regular starters and substitutes valuable playing time as the club prepares for a critical league matchup.
This included the opportunity for players such as Baraket El Hmidi, Youssef Becha, and Hazem Haj Hassen to see action on the field, sharpening their form ahead of CS Sfaxien’s upcoming Ligue 1 clash with leaders Olympique Béja on Sunday, a match that marks the 7th day of the Tunisian league season.
Coach Santos’s approach allowed for a mix of established players and emerging talents to showcase their abilities, giving the team flexibility and depth as they turn their focus to the top-of-the-table battle.
