ES Tunis will take to the field against EGS Gafsa in their next league fixture with a depleted squad, as head coach Maher Kanzari prepares for his domestic debut under challenging circumstances.
The “Blood and Gold” outfit are still reeling from their Champions League quarter-final exit at the hands of South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns last Tuesday.
Now, they must regroup quickly for their league campaign, but Kanzari will be without six pivotal players for the clash.
Defensive stalwart Mohamed Amine Tougaï has been ruled out due to a muscle injury sustained during the loss to Sundowns.
The extent of his absence is yet to be determined as he undergoes further assessment by the club’s medical team.
Adding to the coach’s selection headache, star forward Youssef Belaïli has been handed a two-match suspension by the National Professional Football League.
His absence further limits the attacking options available to Kanzari, who will be looking to inject new energy into a side that needs a swift response following their continental disappointment.
Suspensions have also sidelined four additional players, all of whom are serving one-match bans for accumulated cautions.
Midfielders Hamza Jelassi and Yan Sasse, as well as Onuche Ogbelu and Aboubacar Diakité, will all be unavailable, reducing Kanzari’s choices across multiple areas of the pitch.
This significantly weakened squad will present a stern test for Kanzari in what is his first league match at the helm.
The coach will need to rely on the depth of his squad and possibly turn to younger or less experienced players to step up and fill the void left by the absentees.
The timing of the suspensions and injuries could not be more inconvenient as ES Tunis seek to bounce back from their continental exit and keep their domestic campaign on track.
The pressure is on for Kanzari to make an immediate impact and to rally his remaining players for a crucial fixture that could shape the remainder of their season.
With so many regulars out, this match may serve as a defining moment for both the coach and his reshuffled lineup as they attempt to navigate adversity and reaffirm their title ambitions.
