Esperance exit Club World Cup after defeat to Chelsea
Published: Wednesday, 25 June 2025
Tunisian giants Esperance saw their FIFA Club World Cup journey come to an end after a clinical 3-0 defeat to English side Chelsea on Tuesday night.
In a match where the North Africans needed a win to advance from Group D, two goals in first-half stoppage time by the Premier League side dismantled their hopes, despite a spirited showing that carried the ambition of an entire continent.
Esperance, who had kept Chelsea at bay for 45 minutes, crumbled just before the interval.
A pinpoint chipped free-kick from Enzo Fernandez found Tosin Adarabioyo, whose header broke the deadlock.
Moments later, Liam Delap doubled the lead, capitalising on a lapse in concentration to slot home Chelsea's second.
The second half offered little comfort. Chelsea, already assured of progress with a draw, introduced a host of young talents, including winger Tyrique George, who rifled in a stoppage-time third to underline their dominance.
Yet, this scoreline fails to capture the early moments of defiance from the Tunisian side.
Goalkeeper Bechir Ben Said made a string of saves to deny Romeo Lavia and Enzo Fernandez, while Yassine Meriah produced a crucial goal-line clearance to momentarily keep Esperance's hopes alive.
The defeat confirms Esperance's third-place finish in Group D, behind leaders Flamengo and Chelsea.
Their early exit may sting, but their tactical bravery and organised structure showed why North African clubs remain continental powerhouses.
For Esperance – one of Africa's most storied clubs – this was less about the result and more about learning, growth, and gaining exposure on the global stage.
Coach Maher Kanzari had earlier emphasised that 'our goal was to gain experience from this competition,' and those words now carry deeper meaning.
Esperance return home with valuable lessons and the pride of representing African football on one of the game's biggest platforms.
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CAF
15 hours ago
- CAF
Esperance exit Club World Cup after defeat to Chelsea
Published: Wednesday, 25 June 2025 Tunisian giants Esperance saw their FIFA Club World Cup journey come to an end after a clinical 3-0 defeat to English side Chelsea on Tuesday night. In a match where the North Africans needed a win to advance from Group D, two goals in first-half stoppage time by the Premier League side dismantled their hopes, despite a spirited showing that carried the ambition of an entire continent. Esperance, who had kept Chelsea at bay for 45 minutes, crumbled just before the interval. A pinpoint chipped free-kick from Enzo Fernandez found Tosin Adarabioyo, whose header broke the deadlock. Moments later, Liam Delap doubled the lead, capitalising on a lapse in concentration to slot home Chelsea's second. The second half offered little comfort. Chelsea, already assured of progress with a draw, introduced a host of young talents, including winger Tyrique George, who rifled in a stoppage-time third to underline their dominance. Yet, this scoreline fails to capture the early moments of defiance from the Tunisian side. Goalkeeper Bechir Ben Said made a string of saves to deny Romeo Lavia and Enzo Fernandez, while Yassine Meriah produced a crucial goal-line clearance to momentarily keep Esperance's hopes alive. The defeat confirms Esperance's third-place finish in Group D, behind leaders Flamengo and Chelsea. Their early exit may sting, but their tactical bravery and organised structure showed why North African clubs remain continental powerhouses. For Esperance – one of Africa's most storied clubs – this was less about the result and more about learning, growth, and gaining exposure on the global stage. Coach Maher Kanzari had earlier emphasised that 'our goal was to gain experience from this competition,' and those words now carry deeper meaning. Esperance return home with valuable lessons and the pride of representing African football on one of the game's biggest platforms.
Al-Ahram Weekly
17 hours ago
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End of the line - Sports - Al-Ahram Weekly
Ahly served up a breathtaking 4-4 draw against Porto but both were still ousted from the Club World Cup. You would think that any team that scores four goals in one match should win. Not in this match. You would also think that any team that led four times in a match would win. Not in this match. In the third and final group stage game in the Club World Cup being played in the US, Ahly of Egypt and Porto of Portugal played one for the ages, resulting in a thrilling 4-4 tie. But the excitement was all for naught, as on the other hand, Inter Miami of the US and Palmeiras of Brazil fought their own 2-2 draw in the same group and at the same time, which was enough for both latter teams to advance to the knockout stage. Ahly and Porto were sent home but heads were held high after their fascinating encounter. Most Egyptians missed the live action as the two games were played at 4am Cairo time. If you missed it, Ahly and Porto played one of the most entertaining games in the tournament. Ahly had leads of 1-0, 2-1, 3-2 and 4-3 and yet they all evaporated as they could not escape Porto which clawed back every single time. At MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Monday night, Ahly took the lead on 15 minutes with their first goal in the tournament. Porto gave the ball away in Ahly's end, allowing midfielder Hamdi Fathi to advance towards the box, then play in forward Wessam Abou Ali on the left who shot past goalkeeper Claudio Ramos, albeit the ball hitting the bottom of the post first. The lead was short-lived as teenage talent 18-year-old Rodrigo Mora sliced through Ahly's defence before rounding Mohamed Al-Shenawi and rifling home. Shades of Maradona. The pendulum swung back in favour of the Egyptian giants just before the interval as Fabio Vieira tripped up Zizo in the box, allowing Abou Ali to score the resulting penalty, sending Ramos the wrong way. It was the second time in the tournament that Zizo had won a penalty. The end-to-end drama continued in the second half with William Gomes curling home a delightful right-foot strike from outside the box, only for Ahly to respond immediately with a difficult Abou Ali header completing the Palestinian's hat-trick. 3-2 Ahly. Martin Anselmi's men would not be discouraged, though, and were back on terms yet again in their next attack, with Samu Aghehowa rising highest in the box to power home another header from a corner. Yet every time Porto fought back, Ahly would take the lead again as Tunisian Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane found the top corner from range with a fantastic strike. With time running out, and news filtering through of the scoreline in Florida, Pepe scored the final goal in the 89th minute following a night (or day, depending on which continent you live in) of high drama. With the two results, Palmeiras and Inter Miami finished one-two in Group A with five points each and advance to the round of 16. Porto finished third with two points, same as Ahly who finished last, losing third place on goal difference. Abou Ali's hat trick made up for his own goal scored in Ahly's second game with Palmeiras which ended 2-0 for the Brazilians in a match that was suspended for 50 minutes due to the threat of lightning. Ahly's campaign fell short of expectations, starting with a 0-0 draw with Inter Miami in their opener, one in which they could have won had they converted several golden opportunities in the first half. It was always going to be a difficult campaign for Ahly in this new Club World Cup which expanded from seven teams to 32. Even Ahly's illustrious history in this tournament and beyond were not enough to push them to the knockout stages. Ahly, founded in 1907, have won a record 45 national league titles and 39 domestic cups — another record. It qualified for the Club World Cup three times over by winning three of the last four African Champions League titles. 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This Club World Cup will also henceforth be held every four years instead of one. And it is to be played in the summer. The tournament is being held in the US from 14 June to 13 July, using 12 stadiums in 11 cities for 63 matches. The final will be at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, the same stadium that will play host to the 2026 World Cup final. In fact, the Club World Cup will serve mainly as a dress rehearsal for the 2026 World Cup which will be jointly hosted by the US, Mexico and Canada. While Ahly did not make it beyond the group stage there is still much cash to be had; the pot has increased tremendously. By just securing places in the tournament, the four African teams participating - Ahly, Esperance of Tunisia, Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa and Wydad Casablanca of Morocco - are each guaranteed $9.55 million appearance fees. A win in the group phase will add $2 million, a draw $1 million, and a top-two finish and qualification for the knockout phase $7.5 million. This CWC is one of the richest in professional sports. Prize money of $1 billion will be split between the teams, with the tournament winners earning up to $131 million. Manchester City are the reigning club champion, winning the title in 2023 under the former seven-team format. There was no CWC in 2024. Two Brazilians, Palmeiras and Botafogo, will now meet in the round of 16 while Inter Miama, with Lionel Messi at the helm, meet newly crowned Champions League winners PSG, Messi's former team. * A version of this article appears in print in the 26 June, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
CAF
21 hours ago
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Kanzari: Club World Cup exit will shape Esperance's future
Published: Wednesday, 25 June 2025 Esperance coach Maher Kanzari says his side achieved what they came for at the FIFA Club World Cup – experience and growth – despite their campaign ending in a 3-0 defeat to Chelsea. Speaking after the Group D loss at Lincoln Financial Field, the Tunisian coach highlighted a lack of concentration during key moments as the main reason for their downfall, but insisted his squad leaves stronger and better equipped for future challenges. 'We played the first 45 minutes very well, but we forgot about stoppage time,' said Kanzari. 'That moment cost us. The free-kick goal just before the break changed everything, and the second goal followed quickly because our focus dropped again. That decided the game.' The defeat confirmed Esperance's exit from the tournament, finishing third in the group behind Chelsea and Flamengo. Yet, Al-Kanzari was adamant that the Club World Cup had fulfilled its purpose for his team. 'Our experience in the tournament was very beneficial. That was our goal from the beginning – to gain something meaningful from this opportunity. "It's true we hoped to beat Chelsea and go through, but football has its realities. The quality difference matters.' Despite the result, Esperance's tactical organisation in the early stages impressed many, with the North African side showing resilience and ambition against one of Europe's top clubs. Kanzari believes those positives will remain long after the tournament ends. 'We created chances, especially on the counter-attack. Tactically, we were solid,' he added. 'But at this level, mistakes are punished. That's why playing against these big teams is so important for us.' Esperance's elimination may sting, but the journey itself marks another chapter in Tunisian football's long-standing tradition of excellence on the continental stage. For Kanzari, the lessons learned could spark greater ambition in both domestic and CAF competitions. 'Playing against world-class opposition gives our players confidence. This experience will help them improve individually and collectively,' he concluded. 'We've taken a step forward. Now we go home and continue building.'
