Tunisian giants, Esperance, issue crowd warning ahead of ASEC clash

Esperance Tunis kicked off their preparations for the upcoming clash against ASEC Mimosas of Ivory Coast with closed-door training sessions, signaling a precautionary move against potential fan disturbances ahead of their crucial encounter in the CAF Champions League quarter-finals.

The Tunisian powerhouse, four-time winners of the CAF Champions League, engaged in secluded training at their club facilities throughout the week before their departure for Ivory Coast.

In the first leg held at Rades Stadium, Esperance managed a goalless draw against ASEC Mimosas, setting the stage for a fiercely contested return leg in Abidjan this Saturday.

In a statement posted on their official Facebook page, Esperance urged their supporters attending the away fixture to refrain from using flares or any projectiles to avoid penalties from the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

Esperance has been under the scrutiny of CAF since May 2023, facing a 12-month suspended sentence due to crowd disturbances during their match against Algeria’s JS Kabylie in the previous edition of the tournament.

With the looming threat of harsher sanctions in case of any further infractions during the probation period, Esperance is keen to maintain discipline both on and off the pitch.