Etoile du Sahel expect victory in the African Champions League final

The coach of Tunisian team Etoile du Sahel says he expects the squad to lift its first African Champions League title this season.

"We have prepared well enough to ensure we can win this title for both Etoile supporters and all Tunisians," Frenchman Bertrand Marchand said.

"Today, Etoile du Sahel has the technique and organisation to emerge as the best team in Africa."

Etoile du Sahel meet Egyptian giants Ahly in the first leg of the African Champions League final in Sousse on Saturday before heading to Cairo for the return leg on 9 November.

Etoile plan to start the home contest with three strikers, handing a pivotal central role to teenager Amine Chermiti, who has scored seven goals in this year's competition.

Tunisian failures

Three Tunisian teams have reached the African Champions League final in the past decade but all have failed to lift the cup.

A 3-0 aggregate defeat to Ahly denied Etoile the title two years ago in Cairo, a year after they were beaten by Nigerian side Enyimba on penalties.

CS Sfaxien lost last year's final to Ahly, who are seeking a third straight victory in the tournament, while Esperance lost consecutive finals in 1999 and 2000.

Marchand, who replaced Tunisian coach Faouzi Benzarti in July, said CS Sfaxien's fate would not be repeated.

"Ahly are a great team, full of experienced players and able to create goal-scoring opportunities at any time during the match," he said.

"However, they are not in top form right now and we have players who can put us on course for victory."