Arab Champions League: “ES Sétif shut out in semi-final by Espérance of Tunis”

The Algerian squad of ES Sétif will not play this time the final of the Arab Champions' League competition after its bitter elimination today Sunday by Esperance of Tunis.  

• Today’s second-leg semi-final played in Rades stadium in Tunis was won by the Tunisian side by 2 goals to nil, shattering ES Sétif’s hopes to reach once again the final of this lucrative Arab football contest.
• Esperance of Tunis also carried the day (1-0) in the first-leg match played a fortnight ago in Sétif.

• ES Sétif coach Azzaedine Ait Djoudi:
• “We played quite better than in the first-leg at home, and we could have scored several times but we were unluckky.
• This 2-0 setback today in Tunis  is the result of our unfortunate elimination last Thursday versus CABBA Bordj Bou Arreridj in the Algeria cup contest, a defeat which had a devastating effect on the morale of the club’s managing staff and the players as well.
•  My tactical scheme has nothing to do with the team’s repeated mishaps but I shoulder, all the same, the responsibility of this negative outcome.
• Despite this sad turn of events, I am ready to remain in my post provided  the club’s top manager  Abdelhamid Serrar renews his confidence in me. Anyway, life will tell!”
• Esperance of Tunis coach: Lotfi Batriti
• I must say that ES Sétif is a good team and they played better today, but our victory is meritorious as we were able to score twice without sustaining any goal.
• On the whole, Esperance players knew well how to manage the game and were more efficient than their opponents of the day by applying the coach’s tactical instructions without fail.
• We will strive to snatch the much-coveted Arab trophy in the upcoming final to please our numerous supporters and to add it to the club’s prize-list.
•  This year’s Arab cup final will thus oppose Esperance of Tunis and Morocco’s WAC Casablanca.
• A thrilling final on all accounts, in view of the potency and stamina of the 2 teams!
• The first-leg of this final will be played in Casablanca and the return match will be held, of course, in Tunis, a fortnight later.