A penalty kick from Ayed gave Libya’s Al-Swiahli a 1-0 win over Espérance Sportive de Tunis in the second preliminary round of the CAF Champions League on October 18, 2026, setting up a high-stakes return leg in Rades.
The first leg of the CAF Champions League second preliminary round at Misrata Stadium on October 18, 2026, ended in an upset as Al-Swiahli defeated Espérance Sportive de Tunis 1-0. Defender Ayoub Ayed converted the decisive penalty in the 64th minute, capitalizing on home advantage in what is the Libyan club’s maiden appearance in Africa’s premier club competition. Al-Swiahli’s victory requires Espérance to win by at least two goals in the return fixture to continue their campaign in the tournament, which the Tunisian powerhouse won in 1994, 2011, 2018, and 2019. Conversely, a scoreless draw in the away leg at the opponent’s venue will be enough for Al-Swiahli to secure progression to the group stage of the continental tournament.
For Espérance, a four-time tournament champion, the defeat complicates their path to the group stage. Pablo Franco’s side started with a lineup featuring Bachir Ben Said in goal, supported by a defensive block of Nidal El Aifi, Mohamed Drager, Raed Chakhawi, and Hamza Jlassi, alongside midfielder Jesus Castillo.
Disciplinary Fallout and Media Disputes Overshadow the Return Leg
The aftermath of the Misrata encounter spilled over into a multi-layered dispute involving broadcast commentary, refereeing controversies, and player discipline. Espérance lodged formal protests following Kongolese referee Jean-Pierre Ngbiene’s officiating, particularly concerning the penalty decision. Tensions climaxed at the final whistle when Youssef Belaili received a second yellow card and subsequent red card for aggressive protests directed at the match officials.
The red card rules Belaili out of the return fixture, prompting Espérance management to impose a financial penalty on the Algerian international in accordance with internal squad regulations. Concurrently, the club’s administration pressed the leadership to demand an official apology from Libya Sport TV over analytical commentary that implied external influences on officiating and match outcomes.
Libya Sport TV responded by issuing an official statement apologizing for a broadcaster error regarding the misnaming of Espérance’s goalkeeper while clarifying that analyst opinions belong to individual guests.
Driven by Libya Sport TV's belief in the deep fraternal and historical relations uniting the Libyan and Tunisian peoples, and the role of sports in strengthening the bonds of affection and rapprochement between them, the channel affirms its pride in these relations and its permanent keenness for its sports media message to be an artery for strengthening and consolidating them. Libya
Diplomatic Outreach and Team Preparations Ahead of the Rades Match
To de-escalate tensions surrounding the fixture, Libyan Football Association President Abdul Mawla Al-Maghribi dispatched an official envoy, Mohamed Qreimiza, to accompany Al-Swiahli’s delegation upon their arrival in Tunisia on Wednesday, October 21, 2026. The envoy’s mission involves meeting with Espérance executives to clarify that post-match pitch invasions in Misrata were celebratory rather than threatening.
Meanwhile, Al-Swiahli defender Nader Ghandri urged his teammates to maintain focus despite the first-leg advantage.
We have not achieved anything final yet, and we still have a second and very difficult leg ahead of us in Tunisia. We are well aware of Espérance's great value and know perfectly its style and technical capabilities, so we must keep our feet on the ground and focus completely on the return match. Nader
The return leg is scheduled for Saturday, October 24, 2026, starting at 5:00 PM local time (7:00 PM Mecca time) at Stade de Rades, with Moroccan referee Jalal Jayed officiating the match. The high-profile fixture has attracted unprecedented interest in football circles across Libya and Tunisia as both clubs vie for a spot in the CAF Champions League group stage. Al-Swiahli advances with a draw or any scoring loss by a single goal, while Espérance requires a victory by a two-goal margin to overturn the deficit and reach the group stage.
