For his first continental match in charge of Espérance de Tunis, Spanish coach Pablo Franco hands starting roles to Algerian winger Youcef Belaïli and Tunisian striker Hazem Mastouri against Libyan champions Al-Swehly on Sunday in Misrata.
Espérance Sportive de Tunis open their CAF Champions League campaign this Sunday, 18 October 2026, in Misrata against Libyan champions Al-Swehly in the first leg of the second preliminary round. Kick-off has been set for 18:00 local and Tunisian time (17:00 GMT, 19:00 in Paris), according to Foot Africa.
In the Espérance dugout, Pablo Franco faces his first continental test since his appointment at the start of October. For this trip, he has chosen to throw Algerian international winger Youcef Belaïli and young Tunisian striker Hazem Mastouri straight into the starting line-up, Foot Africa reports.
Mastouri picks up where he left off
Hazem Mastouri had caught the eye the previous weekend by scoring a hat-trick in the league against Olympique de Béja in a 3-1 win, according to La Presse de Tunisie.
The Espérance delegation reached Libya on Saturday morning on a special flight with a squad of 24 players. Among them is Ivorian midfielder Abdramane Konaté, Foot Africa specifies. The substitutes, for their part, sharpened their understanding in a friendly won 4-0 against the El Fahs side, again according to La Presse de Tunisie.
An away trip not to be taken lightly
Misrata stadium has an approved capacity of 10,000 spectators. “The trip to Misrata is difficult, but we will make sure Espérance show their usual face in the Champions League,” Pablo Franco told La Presse de Tunisie.
The coach also warns that there is still plenty of room for improvement: “The team is still far from the level I hope it reaches technically, physically and mentally. We must keep working with the same seriousness.”
Experience against first-timers
The match pits two very different records against each other. Al-Swehly are playing in the CAF Champions League this season for the very first time in their history, while Espérance de Tunis have four titles in the competition to their name, according to La Presse de Tunisie.
The second leg is scheduled for Saturday, 24 October 2026, at the Hamadi Agrebi Olympic Stadium in Radès, in front of more than 25,000 supporters.