Esperance will have a slight advantage heading back to Tunisia after registering a 1-1 draw away to Wydad Casablanca in the first leg of the CAF Champions League final.
Wydad secured their spot in the final after overcoming Absa Premiership champions Mamelodi Sundowns in the semi-final round, while the visitors saw off TP Mazembe.
Wydad have enjoyed a decent record at home in the competition this season and were banking on the support of the crowd to see them past Tunis. The opening exchanges were lively, although a number of yellow cards were brandish, two in particular went to Chamseddine Dhaouadi and Ghaylene Chalaali, who will now both miss the second leg. The deadlock was eventually broken just before the halftime break as Fousseny Coulibaly put Espérance ahead to silence the home fans. The second half did not start any better for the home side, who had their captain, Brahim Nakkach, sent off for picking up his second yellow card after 49 minutes. Wydad responded with a double change after the hour mark as Yahaya Jabrane and Ayme Hassouini came on for Michael Babatunde and Walid El Karti in an attempt to secure an equaliser. With 11 minutes remaining, the hosts were level as Cheick Ibrahim Comara found the back of the net of the net after being set up by Salah Saidi.
The second leg will take place in Tunisia next week Friday.
