Esperance Tunis - ASEC Abidjan

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Champions League match report:
Esperance Tunis - ASEC Abidjan
(date: August 21st 1999)

the match report

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before the match

The story before the match made this THE long awaited club encounter on the African continent:
Two of the biggest clubs in Africa, two of the best lead clubs, and two clubs who claim to have the right to represent Africa in January's world club championship.

before the match

On one side: Esperance de Tunis, something like the African Bayern Munich (or which club you want), with a bunch of Tunisian stars plus the best of Africa that does not play in Europe (headed by the Okocha-like Nsilulu from the DR Congo), with star players on the bench, and the definitive favorite for the title this year.

And on the other: ASEC Abidjan from Côte d'Ivoire. They are the defenders of the title but there aren't any players left from the triumph in december 1998! When Eurpopean and other clubs began to buy the key players from the team the whole squad was sent away and replaced by a youth team with an average age of 17.

before the match

But it was not any youth team, it had been a visionary build-up, prepared since years before by the visionary Roger Ouégnin.

The first time this youth team was fielded was in the African super-cup match in January. Against who? - Esperance. Nobody gave a chance for the kids but they surprisded the Tunisian winners of the cup winners competition with a spectacular 3:1 extra-time victory, highlighted by 2 spectacular goals of the just 15-year old Zezeto. This match already has become a legend, if not THE legend of the recent African club game.

the second half

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african football

MATCH REPORT: the first half

Now the rematch at Tunis in the African champions league:

From the beginning Esperance made clear, there wouldn't be any complacency towards the kids this time. And Esperance knew exactly what to do. Extensive pressing in the first 15 minutes made the ball control attitude of the Ivorian game impossible, the boys did not find their rhythm. Also ASEC had big problems with the variable attack of Esperance who attacked with altering players. The 1:0 after 14 minutes (scorer: Kanzari) was the eventual consequence. Esperance had several more opportunities before and after the goal. At the end of the first half ASEC got more into the rhythm of their skillful short passing game and exposed some nervousness in the Tunision defence.

Halftime 1:0

MATCH REPORT: the second half

If the score had longer remained 1:0, ASEC might have been able to equalize late in the match, as the boys more and more found into the match. But a lost one-to-one challenge on the left defence side created the situation that lead to the 2:0 (Agoye, 55th). It was only after a penalty to the 3:0 (Azaiez, 84th), that ASEC had some spectacular scenes in front of the Esperance goal.

The 3:0 doesn't represent the strength of the two teams on the field but it definitively represents the threat to the two goals in the 90 minutes. (Of course it could be argued here, so it DOES represent the strength of the teams). The adults vs. boys scenario became obvious in this match but it could also be seen which talent the Ivorian group posesses. The physical difference was too much as several weapons (like the air play) so were reserved to one side. The ASEC boys that impressively had outplayed the Algerian champions in the qualification round were defeated by a fully concentrated and very strong Tunisian squad. But they are not chanceless, they have their own means and those will have more effect in the further matches. Their biggest problem is the impact of the attacking line, suffering from their physical inferirity when ASEC acts or has to act more careful and attacks only with few players.

Esperance on the other side seems a very strong and very well balanced group of players and remain clear favorites to reach the final.