Esperance de Tunis have ended their pursuit of French coach Patrice Carteron for the vacant coaching job due to his outrageous financial demands.
The Tunisian giants are currently without a substantive manager after parting ways with Maher Kanzari on Monday, February 9, 2026. The decision to sack Maher Kanzari stem from their defeat to Stade Malien in the CAF Champions League penultimate group stage clash at the weekend.
Carteron’s agent had arrived in Tunisia for negotiations with Esperance over the coaching job, but talks has reportedly hit snag due to high financial demands.
The French trainer, who has had several spells on the African continent is currently unattached after being sacked as head coach of Umm Salal in Qatar last month.
He has previously coached TP Mazembe, Wadi Degla, Al Ahly, Zamalek, Raja, the Malian national team, Al-Nasr and Al-Ettifaq of Saudi Arabia.
Stade Malien defeated Esperance 1-0 in the fifth round of the group stage in a match held in Mali, ensuring qualification to the quarterfinal of the competition.
Currently, the Malian giants sit top of the table with eleven points, while Esperance occupies second place with 6 points, tied with Petro Atletico of Angola in third place. Meanwhile, Simba of Tanzania remains in fourth and last place with one point.
The Tunisian giants will wrap up their group game this weekend against Angolan giants Petro Atletico.
