Top 4 Espérance de Tunis comebacks in the CAF Champions League

Special Reports 17 April 2026 at 03:12

Imed Ben Amara

News Editor

18.04.26 FT CAF Champions League

Mamelodi Sundowns FC

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Esperance

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Espérance de Tunis will be looking to pull off a sensational feat on Saturday in the second leg of the 2025-2026 CAF Champions League semi-finals.

After suffering a narrow home defeat in the first leg, the Blood and Gold are aiming for yet another historic comeback.

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The task, however, promises to be a tough one, especially since the Brazilians have been unbeatable at home.

Let’s look back at four memorable comebacks by Espérance de Tunis in the CAF Champions League.

Espérance Sportive de Tunis 5-1 Al-Hilal Club (March 19, 2005)

The oldest club in Tunisia was defeated 2-0 in the first leg of the 2024-2025 CAF Champions League first round.

Trailing again in the return leg with only 30 minutes left on the clock, Espérance pulled off the impossible by netting five goals, securing qualification to the next round.

Espérance Sportive de Tunis 3-0 Al Ahly (November 9, 2018)

After losing 3-1 in the first leg of the 2018 Champions League final, the Blood and Gold were forced to pull off something extraordinary in the return match.

They did just that, storming to a resounding 3-0 victory and clinching their third continental crown after triumphs in 1994 and 2011.

Espérance Tunis 4-2 Primeiro de Agosto (October 23, 2018)

After a narrow defeat in the first leg of the semi-finals, the Tunisian capital side found themselves locked at 2-2 in the second leg, just minutes from the final whistle.

Haythem Jouini and then Anice Badri struck with two clutch goals, sending Espérance de Tunis through to the final.

Espérance Sportive de Tunis 2-0 (3-2) CR Belouizdad (May 22, 2021)

With their backs against the wall after a 2-0 loss in the first leg of the quarter-finals, Tunisia’s oldest club was still searching for a breakthrough with 22 minutes left to play.

Abdelraouf Benguit and Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane sparked a late Blood and Gold revolt, scoring twice in the closing stages before winning the penalty shootout 3-2.

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