Club Africain will be without ten players for their Tunisian Cup round of 16 fixture against CS Msaken, as head coach David Bettoni contends with suspensions, injuries, and regulatory restrictions on foreign players.
The match, scheduled for Sunday, comes under Tunisian Cup rules that prohibit top-tier Ligue 1 clubs from fielding foreign players when facing a divisional side.
As a result, seven members of Club Africain’s senior squad are automatically ruled out of contention.
Coach Bettoni will be unable to call upon Ali Youssef, Tene Willis Didof, Keneth Semakula, Abdelmalek Kelaleche, Philippe Kinzumbi, Fahd Al Mesmari, and Jules Armand Kooh—all foreign players excluded due to competition regulations.
Adding to the team’s selection woes, winger Adem Garreb is unavailable through injury.
Meanwhile, goalkeeper Ghaith Yeferni is serving a suspension after being shown a red card in the recent derby, and attacking midfielder Ghaith Sghaier is also sidelined due to accumulated bookings.
The absence of key personnel presents a significant challenge for Club Africain, who will now need to rely on domestic players to secure progression in the competition.
The club’s depth and adaptability will be tested as they aim to navigate the knockout tie without several of their usual starters.
“Between suspensions, injuries and foreigners unable to face a divisional club due to competition regulations, club coach David Bettoni will play the next match counting for the round of 16 of the Tunisian Cup against CS Msaken, deprived of the services of ten key players,” stated an internal club report.
Despite the depleted squad, expectations remain high. Club Africain, one of Tunisia’s most decorated football institutions, will still be regarded as favourites heading into the tie.
However, the forced changes may offer an opportunity for young and fringe players to step into the spotlight.
The fixture against CS Msaken is expected to be tightly contested, particularly with the visitors operating under significant limitations.
With a place in the quarter-finals at stake, Bettoni’s tactical decisions and the performance of his reshuffled lineup will be under close scrutiny.
Sunday’s clash promises to be a stern examination of Club Africain’s resilience, as they attempt to balance ambition with adversity in the country’s premier cup competition.
