Tunisia’s Esperance de Tunis announced on Sunday evening the dismissal of coach Maher Kanzari following the loss to Mali’s Stade Malien in the African Champions League by a score of 1-0.
The club’s administration issued a statement on its official Facebook page, which included the decision by club president Hamdi Meddeb to dismiss Kanzari.
The statement mentioned that the composition of the new technical staff will be announced within the coming days.
Esperance currently leads the league standings, but the team’s performance remains shaky despite winter transfer window signings.
With the loss in Bamako, Esperance’s points have stalled at six, placing them second in Group Four.
The team must win or draw in its final group match against visiting Angolan side Petro Atlético to secure qualification for the competition’s quarter-finals.
Tunisia
Tunisia is a North African country with a rich history shaped by ancient civilizations, including the Phoenicians who founded Carthage, followed by Roman, Arab, and Ottoman influences. Its cultural sites, such as the ruins of Carthage and the medina of Tunis—a UNESCO World Heritage site—reflect this diverse historical legacy. Today, it is known as the birthplace of the Arab Spring and for its blend of Mediterranean and Arab cultures.
Esperance de Tunis
Esperance de Tunis is a prominent Tunisian multisport club, best known for its football team, founded in 1919 during the French protectorate. It is historically significant as one of Africa’s most successful clubs, with numerous domestic and continental titles, and has served as a symbol of Tunisian identity and resilience.
Mali
Mali is a West African nation historically renowned as the heart of the powerful Mali Empire, which flourished from the 13th to 16th centuries and was famed for its wealth, particularly under Emperor Mansa Musa. Today, it is home to significant UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the ancient cities of Timbuktu and Djenné, which were major centers of Islamic scholarship and trans-Saharan trade.
Stade Malien
Stade Malien is a multi-sport club based in Bamako, Mali, founded in 1960. It is historically one of the country’s most successful football clubs, having won numerous national championships and the CAF Cup Winners’ Cup in 2009.
African Champions League
The African Champions League is the premier annual club football competition organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). It was founded in 1964 as the African Cup of Champions Clubs, with Oryx Douala of Cameroon winning the inaugural title, and was rebranded with its current name in 1997. The tournament crowns the continent’s top club side, with Egypt’s Al Ahly holding the record for most titles.
Facebook
Facebook is an online social media and social networking service founded in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg and his Harvard University roommates. It began as a campus directory before expanding globally, fundamentally changing how people connect and share information online. The platform has since grown into a tech giant under its parent company, Meta, operating numerous other services.
Bamako
Bamako is the capital and largest city of Mali, located on the Niger River. It grew from a small settlement in the 19th century to become a major administrative and trade center under French colonial rule after its capture in 1883. Today, it is a bustling cultural and economic hub known for its markets, music, and the National Museum of Mali.
Angolan
Angola is a country in southwestern Africa that gained independence from Portugal in 1975 after a long liberation war. Its history includes the powerful pre-colonial Kingdom of Kongo and a legacy as a major source of people during the transatlantic slave trade.
Petro Atlético
Petro Atlético is a professional football club based in Luanda, Angola, originally founded in 1980 as part of the state-owned oil company Sonangol. Historically one of the country’s most successful teams, it has won numerous Angolan league titles and is a major force in domestic football.
