Espérance Sportive de Zarzis will stage their Ligue 1 Matchday 18 fixture against Club Africain in Djerba after being forced to move once again from their usual home ground.
The Tunisian top-flight encounter, scheduled for next Tuesday, will be played at the Mustapha Douri Stadium in Djerba Midoun, marking a further change of venue for Espérance de Zarzis as they continue to serve a league-imposed sanction.
The decision means the southern club will not return to their Abdessalem Kazouz Stadium for this high-profile meeting, having already played their previous two “home” matches in Tataouine.
Those temporary relocations were also a consequence of disciplinary measures taken by the National Professional Football League.
Espérance de Zarzis are currently under an obligation to play three matches away from their home stadium following the sanction, the details of which were confirmed earlier by the league.
As a result, the clash with Club Africain will be held on neutral ground, depriving Zarzis of familiar surroundings and their regular home support.
The move to Djerba presents logistical and sporting challenges for both sides.
For Espérance de Zarzis, the continued absence from their home base disrupts routine and preparation, while for Club Africain it alters the usual dynamic of an away fixture.
Despite the neutral setting, the match is expected to attract significant attention, given Club Africain’s stature and the competitive nature of Ligue 1 at this stage of the season.
Matchday 18 is viewed as a key moment in the campaign, with teams seeking momentum as the league enters a decisive phase.
Espérance de Zarzis will be aiming to make the most of the Djerba setting to limit the impact of their enforced exile, while Club Africain will look to capitalise on the situation and secure a positive result away from home.
The National Professional Football League’s decision continues to shape Zarzis’ schedule, and the fixture in Djerba serves as a reminder of the broader consequences such sanctions can have on clubs, players and supporters alike.
For now, all focus turns to Mustapha Douri Stadium, where Espérance de Zarzis and Club Africain will meet with league points at stake and little room for error.
