Tunisia: Etoile du Sahel reveal alarming 105 million dinar debt despite annual profit

Etoile Sportive du Sahel has announced a small financial surplus for the 2024-2025 season despite the club’s total debt climbing to more than 105 million dinars, according to figures presented during its ordinary general assembly on Friday.

Club officials gathered to review the financial reports for the season, with the statements revealing a profit estimated at 428,000 dinars.

While the result reflected a positive balance over the latest financial year, the overall economic situation of the Tunisian side remains under significant pressure because of mounting liabilities.

The figures highlighted the contrast between the club’s short-term operating performance and the scale of its long-term financial obligations, which continue to weigh heavily on Etoile du Sahel.

Small surplus recorded for the season

According to the financial statement presented to members during the assembly, Etoile Sportive du Sahel generated revenues of 15.636 million dinars during the 2024-2025 campaign.

At the same time, the club’s expenses were reported at 15.028 million dinars, allowing the organisation to finish the season with a modest surplus.

The estimated profit of 428,000 dinars was viewed as a positive outcome in operational terms, particularly in light of the financial difficulties affecting many clubs across the region.

However, despite the surplus, the financial report also underlined that the club’s wider economic challenges remain unresolved.

Overall debt continues to increase

The figures presented during the meeting showed that Etoile du Sahel’s total debt had reached approximately 105.5 million dinars by June 30, 2025.

That represents an increase compared with the previous year, when the club’s total debt stood at around 103 million dinars.

The rise in liabilities illustrates the scale of the financial burden still facing the Tunisian club, despite efforts to maintain balance in day-to-day operations during the latest season.

The report painted a picture of a club attempting to stabilise its finances while continuing to carry substantial historical debts accumulated over several years.

Significant debt linked to former president

One of the largest financial obligations identified in the report concerns money owed to former club president Ridha Charfeddine.

According to the figures disclosed during the assembly, approximately 53 million dinars are owed to the former chairman, making it one of the biggest individual liabilities on the club’s financial records.

The scale of that debt continues to play a major role in the club’s financial outlook and remains central to discussions surrounding long-term recovery and restructuring.

The report did not indicate any immediate resolution to the issue, but the amount owed highlights the seriousness of the club’s economic position despite the latest annual surplus.

Players and staff among creditors

The financial documents also revealed that Etoile du Sahel owes around 24 million dinars to players and members of the technical staff.

Those liabilities form another significant part of the club’s financial responsibilities and underline the pressure on the administration to meet obligations linked directly to sporting operations.

Financial commitments to players and coaching staff remain a sensitive issue for football clubs, particularly when debt levels continue to rise alongside operational costs.

The report further confirmed an additional debt of 15 million dinars owed to the National Social Security Fund.

Together, these obligations contribute to the broader financial strain facing the club and illustrate the complexity of its current economic situation.

Balancing sporting ambitions with financial reality

Although the club succeeded in ending the latest season with a positive balance, the figures presented at the general assembly made clear that Etoile Sportive du Sahel still faces major financial challenges.

The modest surplus offers some indication of improved management during the 2024-2025 season, but the increase in overall debt demonstrates that deeper structural issues remain unresolved.

The financial presentation reflected the difficult balance many football clubs attempt to maintain between sustaining sporting competitiveness and managing rising financial obligations.

For Etoile du Sahel, the challenge now lies in reducing liabilities while maintaining operational stability in future seasons.

Friday’s assembly therefore provided both encouraging and concerning signals: a positive annual result on one hand, and a debt burden exceeding 105 million dinars on the other.