Esperance reject Al-Suwaihli ticket allocation for CAF Champions League tie

Esperance Sportive de Tunis have told their supporters not to travel to Libya for their CAF Champions League meeting with Al-Suwaihli after rejecting the ticket allocation offered by the hosts.

The Tunisian club will visit Al-Suwaihli on 18 October 2026 for the first leg of the competition’s second preliminary round.

In a statement, Esperance said the decision had been taken to avoid a repeat of problems experienced during previous away trips.

“On the occasion of the first-leg match against Al-Suwaihli, scheduled for 18 October 2026, Esperance Sportive de Tunis informs its loyal supporters that, in order to avoid what happened during some previous trips, it has decided not to accept the number of tickets allocated to its fans by the host club,” the statement said.

“Although this number is in accordance with the regulations of the Confederation of African Football, it does not meet the needs of our large fanbase, which is accustomed to accompanying the team, and cannot guarantee equal opportunities for all supporters to attend, given the limited capacity of Misrata Stadium.”

The club also said it would not be responsible for any supporters travelling to Libya to attend the match, whether through travel agencies or independently.

“Esperance Sportive de Tunis also makes clear that it bears no responsibility for any of its supporters travelling to Libya to attend the match through travel agencies or individually,” it added.

“Any travel organised in this way will be undertaken at the responsibility of those travelling and the parties arranging it. While renewing its pride in its loyal supporters and its continued commitment to defending their rights and the principle of equality among them, the club urges everyone to take this statement into consideration.”

Esperance enter the second preliminary round after being exempted by CAF from taking part in the first preliminary round.

Al-Suwaihli reached this stage after eliminating the Zanzibar champions.

Zamalek and Pyramids represent Egyptian football in the CAF Champions League.

Zamalek will face the Rwandan Army, while Pyramids will play Al-Merreikh Bentiu, the champions of South Sudan.