ES Setif Eye African Champions League Upset In Rades

ES Setif will be out to cause a major upset when they lock horns with Esperance de Tunis in an African Champions League second-leg quarterfinal clash at the Stade Olympique de Rades in Rades on Friday night.

Kick-off is at 21h00 GMT.

The Algerian outfit head to Tunisia following a goalless draw in the first-leg showdown between the two clubs at the Stade du 5 Juillet in Algiers last weekend.

Both teams squandered several chances throughout the match, with the woodwork coming to either sides rescue.

ES Setif coach Reda Bendriss blamed fixtures congestion for the draw while also being mindful of the tricky assignment that lies in wait for his team in the second-leg.

“We missed the victory against a good team from the Esperance. The sequence of matches left its mark on the physical form of the players but we still ensured at least a draw before the return leg,” he told CAFOnline.

Esperance coach Radi Jaidi was disappointed by the missed chances but is confident that his charges have the credentials to cause an upset in Tunis.

“It was a pleasant match between two teams who played very good football. We lacked offensive efficiency. The last touch made the difference,”Jaidi told CAFOnline.

“ We missed several chances especially in the first half. We missed several chances and we must correct our errors for the return match to ensure our qualification for the semi-finals”.

The winner on aggregate between ES Setif and Esperance will face off with either defending champions Al Ahly or Morocco’s Raja Casablanca in the semi-finals.