Midfielders Kwame Bonsu (L) of Esperance and Ferjani Sassi of Zamalek contest possession during a CAF Champions League quarter-final second leg in Tunis © AFP / Fethi Belaid
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, Mar 7 – Tunisian club Esperance this weekend became the latest victims of a jinx that has prevented any club winning the CAF Champions League three consecutive times.
Zamalek of Egypt defeated the 2018 and 2019 trophy-holders 3-2 on aggregate in a quarter-final after losing the second leg 1-0 in Tunis Friday.
Esperance joined Al Ahly of Egypt and TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo (twice each) and Enyimba of Nigeria as back-to-back title winners who could not complete a treble.
The Tunisians, who also lost to Zamalek in the one-off CAF Super Cup match last month, were hit by a series of suspensions before the second leg of the Champions League clash.
Coach Moine Chaabani and his deputy, Mejdi Traoui, were banned for four matches and fined for aggressive behaviour, offensive language and threats after a 3-1 first-leg loss in Cairo.
Captain and centre-back Khalil Chemmam received a six-match ban and a $40,000 (35,500 euro) fine for spitting at the Moroccan match officials and using offensive language.
Midfielder Abdelraouf Benguit got a four-match suspension and a $20,000 fine for using offensive language against the referees.
Besides the individual sanctions, Esperance were fined $10,000 because their supporters threw flares at the Cairo International Stadium.
Failed CAF Champions League treble bids:
1969
Mazembe (lost 5-3 on aggregate to Ismailia of Egypt in final)
2005
Enyimba (eliminated after finishing third in Group A)
2007
Ahly (lost 3-1 on aggregate to Etoile Sahel of Tunisia in final)
2011
Mazembe (disqualified after round of 32 for fielding ineligible player)
2014
Ahly (lost 4-2 on aggregate to Al Ahly Benghazi of Libya in round of 16)
2020
Esperance (lost 3-2 on aggregate to Zamalek of Egypt in quarter-finals)
