The National Professional Football League has confirmed that the Ligue 1 clash between EGS Gafsa and Etoile du Sahel will be replayed on Wednesday, April 23 at the Mohamed Rouached Stadium in Gafsa, with kick-off scheduled for 3:00 p.m. local time.
This fixture, originally part of the 13th round of the Tunisian top flight, will be replayed following a ruling from the Appeals Committee of the Tunisian Football Federation.
The decision to order a rematch has triggered dissatisfaction from both clubs involved, each citing differing grievances.
EGS Gafsa have voiced strong opposition to the ruling, with the club’s board of directors expressing their refusal to participate in the replay.
Their frustration stems from the fact that the appeal committee had initially upheld the 1-1 result registered on the pitch, only to later reverse course and call for a new match.
The club argues that this change undermines sporting integrity and the credibility of decisions previously ratified by the federation’s judicial bodies.
On the other side, Etoile du Sahel have not opposed the rematch outright, but are displeased with the timing. The rescheduled fixture falls awkwardly in their calendar, sandwiched between two other important away games.
The team is due to face JS Omrane in Ligue 1 and Jeunesse Sportive Kairouanaise in the Tunisian Cup during the same period, creating a congested and challenging schedule.
Both teams now face logistical hurdles as they prepare for a match that neither wanted under the current circumstances.
The Gafsa-based side is grappling with the internal debate over whether to adhere to the league’s directive or take further action, while Etoile du Sahel must contend with player rotation and fatigue management during a demanding stretch of fixtures.
The decision from the Appeals Committee, though binding, remains controversial. It reflects the broader tensions within Tunisian football where decisions off the pitch continue to have significant repercussions on competition outcomes.
Critics have pointed to the lack of clarity and consistency in the federation’s rulings, suggesting that such reversals erode confidence in the game’s governance.
The original 1-1 draw had been accepted by many as a fair result until appeals and counter-appeals brought the matter into administrative turmoil.
The subsequent order to replay the match has reignited debates about procedural fairness and the influence of external pressures on sporting decisions.
Despite the discontent, preparations for the match are expected to go ahead unless EGS Gafsa formally refuse to play, in which case the National Professional Football League may be forced to intervene again.
As the match date approaches, all eyes will be on how the two clubs navigate the tensions leading into a fixture that now carries more weight off the field than on it.
Whether the April 23 showdown will proceed as planned or spark further administrative complications remains to be seen.
What is certain, however, is that the clash between EGS Gafsa and Etoile du Sahel has become emblematic of the ongoing challenges facing Tunisian football’s domestic governance.
