Ghith Zaalouni scored a last-gasp winner to lead Club Africain to a 1-0 victory and clinch the Tunisian Ligue Professionnelle 1 title on Sunday.
Club Africain moved to 65 points at the top of the standings, while Espérance remained on 60 in second place, with one round left in the season. The title ended a 10-year wait for Club Africain, whose last league championship came in the 2014-15 season.
The match began cautiously, with play mostly confined to midfield early on and Espérance enjoying slightly more possession and more attempts to build attacks.
Hamza El Khadraoui tested Espérance in the 24th minute for Club Africain, but his shot went over the bar, before Firas Chaouat missed a good chance in the 27th minute after a crucial intervention by goalkeeper Amanallah Memmich.
Espérance increased their tempo after the restart, and Moez Hajj Ali struck a dangerous effort in the 56th minute that went narrowly wide.
Chances continued at both ends, with Houssem Hajj Ali missing a clear header in the 60th minute, before Club Africain responded with a dangerous move in the 73rd minute through a Zaalouni cross that Memmich held firmly.
Before the final whistle, Zaalouni snatched the winning goal in stoppage time to seal a historic victory and deliver the league title this season.
Assistant coach Ahmed Al-Touiheri said the title had a special taste because it came after great effort and steady persistence throughout the campaign. In televised remarks, he said that despite the team accepting periods of pressure during the match, they stayed more focused, kept a clean sheet, and seized the decisive moment when it arrived.
Al-Touiheri said the title was a gift to the club’s fans, especially with them absent from the stands. The match was played with only Espérance supporters present, since they were the home team in Radès. Club Africain finished with 10 players after substitute Filip Kinsombi was sent off in stoppage time for a second yellow card.
