Espérance Sportive de Tunis head coach Maher Kanzari has downplayed his side’s previous victory over Mamelodi Sundowns in the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League semi-finals, emphasizing the importance of focusing on the present encounter.
Speaking ahead of the highly anticipated clash, Kanzari stressed that past results hold little significance in the context of a new season and a new match.
Last season, Espérance edged Sundowns, securing a crucial 1-0 victory in the second leg after a goalless draw in Tunis, ultimately advancing to the finals. However, Kanzari, recently re-appointed to the club, is adamant that his team must not dwell on past glories.
“Every game and every season is different, so we cannot focus on the past. We have to focus on the present moment. Yes, we beat them last season in the knockout, but that is now in the past,” Kanzari stated during a pre-match press conference.
The coach, who previously managed Espérance in 2013, highlighted the need for his current players to forge their own path and create their own history.
“The focus is on the now and the current players. We have to focus on the current situation and focus on the current Sundowns. We don’t dwell on the past because football is about the now, so we will write our own history in tomorrow’s match,” he affirmed.
Espérance, a four-time CAF Champions League winner, enters the two-legged encounter with a slight advantage, playing the first leg away at Loftus Stadium before hosting the return leg in Tunis a week later.
The match carries added intrigue as it pits Espérance against their former coach, Miguel Cardoso, who now leads Mamelodi Sundowns.
Cardoso, who guided Espérance to a silver medal in last year’s Champions League, joined the South African side last year, adding another layer of complexity to the encounter.
Sundowns, eager to secure their second continental title since their 2016 triumph, are expected to present a formidable challenge. The match at Loftus Stadium is set to kick off at 15h00 Local Time, 4 PM EAT.
