Esperance Held Goalless in Angola but Remains on Top!
Tunisian giants Esperance Tunis were held to a goalless draw by Sagrada Esperança in their second group stage match of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League on Friday at the Estádio 11 de Novembro in Angola.
The team, coached by Laurentiu Reghecampf, entered the match with confidence after a 4-0 victory over Djoliba in their opener. However, they encountered a resilient defense from the Angolan side, who were determined to bounce back from their heavy 5-1 defeat to Pyramids in their first game. Despite dominating possession and creating multiple chances, Esperance struggled to break through Sagrada's defense, with notable attempts from Rodrigo Rodrigues and Youcef Belaïli in the first half.
The hosts, backed by a passionate crowd, also created dangerous opportunities through Beny Papel and Mussá, but neither side managed to find the back of the net. The intensity of the match was evident in the closing minutes, with Hamza Jelassi and Houssem Tka receiving yellow cards for the Tunisian side.
With this result, Esperance tops Group D with four points from two matches, while Sagrada earned their first point of the campaign, extending their unbeaten home streak to nine matches across all competitions. The group standings could shift this Sunday when Pyramids face Djoliba in a crucial clash for all teams' ambitions.
