Esperance Sportive de Tunis begin their 2026-27 CAF Champions League campaign on Sunday, 18 October, with a trip to Libya to face Al-Swehly SC.

The first leg of the second preliminary round will kick off at 17:00 GMT, or 18:00 local time in Tunisia and Libya, at Misrata Stadium. Esperance will be seeking a positive result ahead of the return match, which will be played in Rades on 24 October.

Having been exempted from the opening preliminary round, the Tunisian side enter the competition aiming to maintain their established presence among Africa’s leading clubs. They have reached the group stage in every season since 2016-17 and are seeking to extend that sequence this campaign.

A strong away performance would give the Sang et Or an advantage before the tie is decided on home ground. Esperance’s priority will be to take control of the tie without exposing themselves before the second leg.

Al-Swehly SC, meanwhile, will look to make the most of home advantage as they face one of the continent’s most experienced sides. The Libyan club are competing in the CAF Champions League for the first time and hope to make an impression against opponents accustomed to major African fixtures.

For the home side, managing the key periods of the match and coping with the pressure applied by Esperance will be central to their chances of securing an advantage.

Esperance will be without full-back Mohamed Ben Ali, who is expected to miss the match because of a muscular injury.