Esperance de Tunis will go head to head with Raja Casablanca on Friday in the CAF Super Cup final set to be played at the Thani bin Jassim Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar.
The Blood and Gold qualified for the tournament as the 2018 CAF Champions League winners at the expense of Al Ahly of Egypt while Raja beat AS Vita Club of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to win the 2018 CAF Confederation Cup.
Since the first-ever Super Cup match was played in January 1993, it has only thrice been that the Champions League winners have ended up on the losing side, with those occasions coming in 1993, 1998 and 2012.
On all of the other 21 finals, the Champions League holders have dominated the tie, and it is that fact which swings the pendulum in the Blood and Gold’s favor.
Just like they did in winning the Champions League, the Tunisian giants will be keen to win Super Cup title which they last bagged in 1995 but failed to replicate the feat in 1999 and 2012.
Raja, on the other hand, will be making their third appearance in the Super Cup having lifted the trophy once in 2000.
Esperance will go into the much hyped tie with a good domestic form having defeated Djerba 8-7 on penalties following a 1-1 draw in the Tunisia Cup match last week Friday.
They are currently top in the Tunisia League standings with 40 points from 17 matches and are likely to defend their crown.
Moroccan heavyweights Raja go into the match against a backdrop of a shaky home run as they are currently fourth on Botola standings with 31 points- nine points below the leaders Wydad Casablanca.
Coach Patrice Cateron’s charges have won four of their last six matches – losing once and drawing the other.
Esperance will be welcoming back goalkeeper Rami Jridi from an injury sustained in a league match against CS Sfaxien nearly two weeks ago.
And with his club celebrating their centenary this year, Jridi is eyeing to memorably cap the season by delivering the CAF Super Cup.
“We hope to win this continental title to strengthen our title account in an outstanding year in the history of the club,” Jridi was quoted as saying by Turess.
The Tunisians will be banking on the form of their striker Anice Badri, who finished last season’s Champions League as top scorer with eight goals.
Raja will be depending on their attacking force in the form of Mahmoud Benhalib, who scored 12 goals in last season’s CAF Confederation Cup to finish as top scorer.
Qatar authorities have announced that the Super Cup is sold out. An electric atmosphere is thus expected at the 20,000 seater Thani Bin Jassim Stadium.
The referee for this final will be Bamlak Tessema Weyesa from Ethiopia, assisted by Walled Ahmed Ali of Sudan and Zakhele Thusi Siwela will be the fourth official.
