Who are Esperance de Tunis?

Partner Authors Updated: 10 Jun 25 14:10

One of the dominant forces in African football, here's everything you need to know about Esperance de Tunis as they prepare to feature at the Club World Cup in the United States.

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Where are Esperance de Tunis from?

Esperance Sportive de Tunis are based in Tunis, the capital city of Tunisia, and play their home games at the Hammadi Agrebi Stadium, which has a capacity of 65,000.

The club compete in the Tunisian Ligue Professionnelle 1, the top tier of football in Tunisia.

History

Esperance de Tunis were founded on 15th January 1919, making them one of the oldest football clubs in North Africa. The club was named after a local cafe where the founding members used to meet.

The Red and Yellow made their official debut in the Tunisian football league system in the 1920s, and by the mid-20th century, they had become a dominant force in domestic football in the country.

They won their first Tunisian league title in 1942 and have gone on to win 34 national league championships.

The club’s rise on the continental stage began in the 1990s, resulting in their first CAF Champions League title in 1994.

That victory solidified Esperance’s reputation as a North African giant and since then, they have lifted the Champions League trophy four times in 1994, 2011, 2018 and 2019.

Their success in this competition has meant Esperance have been a regular participant in both the CAF Super Cup and the Club World Cup.

Nicknames

The Smiling One
Blood and Gold
The Red and Yellow
The Elder of Tunisian Clubs

Notable Players

Current Players

Esperance’s current squad features a mix of seasoned internationals and rising local stars.

Tunisia international defender Yassine Meriah is a driving force in this side and will captain the team going into this summer’s tournament on US soil.

Having had spells in Greece with Olympiakos and in Abu Dhabi with Al Ain, the 31-year-old has won two league titles since moving to Esperance in 2022.

Mohamed Ben Ali has also been an important figure in the backline following his move from CS Sfaxien in 2022.

The 30-year-old is set to have a busy tournament as he and Meriah look to repel some impressive attacking line-ups.

Looking at foreign talent, Brazilian forward Rodrigo Rodrigues has brought flair and creativity since joining the club in 2023.

The 28-year-old’s goals will be vital if Esperance are to make it to the knockout stage of this competition.

Former Players

Esperance de Tunis have long been a launching pad for some of the most prominent names in African football, particularly those who went on to represent Tunisia at the highest levels of the game.

Radhi Jaidi, one of the club’s most iconic defenders, began his career at Esperance before moving to Europe.

A commanding centre-back, Jaidi became a pillar of the Tunisian national team and enjoyed a successful club career in the English game with spells at Bolton Wanderers, Birmingham City and Southampton.

Jaidi was also instrumental in Tunisia’s historic 2004 Africa Cup of Nations victory and made over 100 appearances for his country.

Going back to a career that started in the 1970s, Tarak Dhiab is regarded as one of the best players to have played for Esperance.

Named the African Footballer of the Year in 1977, attacking midfielder Dhiab had two spells with Esperance and was chosen as the Tunisian footballer of the 20th century.

How did Esperance de Tunis qualify for the 2025 Club World Cup?

Esperance de Tunis earned their place in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup through their consistently strong performances in the CAF Champions League over the past few years.

While they didn’t win the 2024 edition, their accumulated CAF club ranking points secured them one of Africa’s four allocated spots in the expanded tournament in the United States this summer.

Esperance’s consistent presence in the latter stages of continental competitions has made them a top-seeded African representative for the Club World Cup, though they will face tough competition from the other top clubs around the world.