Espérance Sportive de Tunis and Stade Tunisien are poised to battle for domestic glory on Sunday in the final of the Tunisian Cup, bringing the curtain down on the national football season with a highly anticipated clash at the Hamadi Agrebi Stadium in Rades.
Kick-off is scheduled for 16:00 local time, with referee Oussema Ben Ishak tasked with overseeing proceedings.
He will be supported by assistant referees Mohamed Trabelsi and Wissem Boughattas.
Bacem Belaid will serve as the fourth official, while video assistant referee duties will be handled by Fraj Abdellaoui, alongside Majdi Bellagha and Khaled Souayeh.
The match sees two of Tunisia’s most storied clubs go head-to-head, in a contest rich with history, rivalry, and recent drama.
The sides have already met twice in the league this season, playing out a thrilling 2-2 draw in the first encounter, followed by a narrow 1-0 win for Espérance in the return fixture—highlighting the tightly contested nature of their recent meetings.
Adding further intrigue to Sunday’s final is the presence of Maher Kanzari on the Espérance bench.
Kanzari, who took charge of the “Blood and Gold” in March following the departure of Laurentiu Reghecampf, was coaching Stade Tunisien earlier in the season.
His recent past with the opposition brings added emotional weight to the fixture, particularly for players and fans who were once under his leadership.
Espérance, with their wealth of experience and decorated history, enter the final as favourites.
However, Stade Tunisien, who lifted the trophy last season, are eager to defend their title and will be motivated to overturn expectations in what is expected to be a tightly contested affair.
Beyond the immediate glory, Sunday’s final offers the victor a chance to cap their campaign with silverware and bragging rights, potentially salvaging a season or elevating it to memorable heights.
The stakes could not be higher, and with both clubs familiar with each other’s style and strengths, margins will be slim in what promises to be a captivating contest.
As thousands of fans prepare to fill the Rades stadium, a fervent atmosphere is guaranteed, setting the stage for one final chapter in Tunisian football’s 2024–25 season.
