CS Hammam-Lif 0-1 Esperance Sportive de Tunis — Esperance Sportive de Tunis claimed a narrow 1-0 win over CS Hammam-Lif at the Stade Municipal de Hammam-Lif on Sunday, September 13, 2026, in a Tunisian Professional League 1 encounter that was far more uncomfortable than the scoreline suggests. Kingsley Eduwo's 78th-minute strike settled a scrappy contest and kept the Blood and Gold firmly in the title race.

Match Overview

Played under the floodlights in front of a passionate home crowd, the match pitted the league's most successful club against a side fighting to avoid relegation. Esperance, managed by Nabil Maaloul, lined up in a 4-3-3 formation, while CS Hammam-Lif set up in a defensive 5-4-1, looking to frustrate the visitors and hit on the counter. The first half was a story of Esperance dominance without penetration: they enjoyed 68% possession but managed only two shots on target before the break.

Key Moments

• 12' — CS Hammam-Lif nearly stunned the visitors when a long throw caused panic in the Esperance box, but goalkeeper Moez Ben Cherifia claimed the ball bravely.
• 34' — Esperance's first clear chance: a sweeping move ended with Anayo Iwuala curling just wide of the far post.
• 58' — The ball was in the net for Esperance, but the referee ruled out a close-range finish for offside after a VAR review.
• 67' — Nabil Maaloul introduced fresh legs, bringing on Zied Berrima to add creativity in the final third.
• 78' — GOAL! Kingsley Eduwo broke the deadlock, latching onto a defense-splitting pass from Berrima and firing low into the bottom corner.
• 90+3' — CS Hammam-Lif's frustrations boiled over as defender Bilel Ifa received a straight red card for a reckless challenge.

Tactical Story

Esperance's patient build-up play was met with a compact defensive block that limited space between the lines. The visitors struggled to break down the low block until Maaloul's substitution shifted the tempo. Berrima's introduction pushed Esperance's creative hub higher up the pitch, and the winning goal came from exactly that adjustment. CS Hammam-Lif, meanwhile, offered little going forward; their only shot on target came in the 89th minute, a tame effort easily saved. The red card compounded a disappointing night for the hosts, who finished the match with ten men.

Standout Players

Kingsley Eduwo was the match-winner, his sharp movement and clinical finish proving the difference. Zied Berrima changed the game after coming off the bench, providing the assist and adding urgency. For CS Hammam-Lif, goalkeeper Aymen Dahmen produced several fine saves to keep the score respectable, while captain Bilel Ifa was a rock at the back until his late dismissal.

What the Result Means

With this victory, Esperance Sportive de Tunis move to the top of the Tunisian Professional League 1 standings, level on points with their closest rivals but with a superior goal difference. The win extends their unbeaten run to seven matches and reinforces their status as title favourites. For CS Hammam-Lif, the defeat leaves them rooted in the relegation zone, four points adrift of safety after just three games of the new campaign. The club will need to find goals quickly if they are to avoid the drop.

Reaction and Next Fixtures

Esperance coach Nabil Maaloul praised his team's patience: "We knew it would be difficult. Hammam-Lif defended well, but we kept believing and got the goal." CS Hammam-Lif's manager, Lotfi Kadri, lamented his side's lack of cutting edge: "We matched them for long periods, but one mistake cost us." Esperance next face a home clash against Club Africain, while CS Hammam-Lif travel to US Monastir.