Al Suwaheli beats Esperance and edges closer to continental qualification dream

Al-Suwaihli have secured a valuable victory over their Tunisian visitors Esperance with a goal to nil, in the match that took place on Sunday evening at Misrata Stadium, as part of the first preliminary round of the CAF Champions League, putting the Libyan team one step closer to competing for a qualification spot.

The match saw a large turnout, with the home side starting with early attacking pressure. Zambian Lameck Banda nearly opened the scoring in the 2nd minute, but Tunisian goalkeeper Bashir Ben Saïd made a crucial save on the goal line.

Al-Suwaihli continued their attempts, with Ayoub Ayad's free-kick hitting the crossbar in the 15th minute. Meanwhile, Esperance gradually began to enter the match, with attempts led by Youssef Belaili and Hazem Al-Mestouri, but they did not pose a significant threat to the Libyan team's defense.

Despite continued attacking pressure from Al-Suwaihly, Espérance managed to keep a clean sheet during the first half, thanks to their defensive organization and the brilliance of Ben Saïd, with the first half of the match ending in a goalless draw.

In the second half, the Libyan team continued their search for a goal, earning a penalty in the 63rd minute. Defender Ayoub Ayad successfully converted it, giving his team the winning goal and a crucial advantage ahead of the return leg.

Suwahli almost doubled the score in the 72nd minute when Ghanaian Saiko tried to find the net, but Ben Said intervened again with a remarkable save on the goal line, keeping Esperance's hopes alive to compensate for their loss in the return leg.

The return match is scheduled for Saturday, October 24, 2026, at the Hamadi Agrebi Stadium in Rades, at 5 PM local time and 7 PM Mecca time. Esperance are looking to overturn the result, while Al-Suwaihli hope to maintain their lead and continue their journey towards the group stage, which they aim to reach for the first time in their history.