Espérance Sportive de Tunis defender Mohamed Amine Tougaï has been excluded from the squad for their CAF Champions League group-stage opener against Djoliba AC on Tuesday evening. The Algerian center-back will miss his fourth consecutive match due to what the club has described as a disciplinary issue.
Speaking at a press conference, head coach Laurențiu Reghecampf confirmed Tougaï’s absence alongside Yan Sasse but refrained from elaborating on the reasons.
All players are ready, except for Yan Sasse and Mohamed Amine Tougaï,” he stated ahead of the match at the Hamadi-Agrebi Olympic Stadium in Radès.
Sources within the club have disclosed that Tougaï’s exclusion stems from an “administrative measure,” highlighting unresolved issues between the player and the club’s management.
Despite being included in the initial squad for last week’s league match against US Ben Guerdane, Tougaï was notably left off the matchday sheet.
The disciplinary action has kept Tougaï out of key matches, including encounters with ES Sahel, AS Gabès, and US Ben Guerdane in the Tunisian league.
His absence raises questions about his future with the “Blood and Gold,” as the team embarks on its African campaign.
ES Tunis will face Mali’s Djoliba AC at 19:00 GMT, aiming to secure a strong start in their Champions League group-stage journey.