Tunis derby

The derbies between the Club Africain (CA) and Espérance de Tunis (EST) start during the season 1923–1924, when the African Club joins the EST in second series (promotion 1): the first official derby, which takes place on March 23, 1924, at the Ariana on behalf of the fifth day of the championship of the second series, is won by the African Club (3-0). Tunisia's first Cup derby, which takes place on October 10, 1926, at the Vélodrome on the occasion of the round of 32, is won by the African Club (1-0). In the context of the Tunisian Cup competitions, six derbys opposed the two teams before independence: one is won by the African Club in 1926, one ends with a draw and four by a victory of the Espérance sportive de Tunis, including two in the semifinals, in 1939 and 1947–1948.

The two teams entered into direct competition in the spring of 1933 and are now playing in the same division, with the exception of one season, sporting competition and competition between them taking over any desire to merge. It is at this period that, competition compels, are forged images truncated or at least oriented or manipulated of a city club and aristocrat for the African Club, solidly anchored in his stronghold of Bab Jedid, in opposition to his opponent being more popular and going to settle in Bab Souika. If this vision develops from the profiles of the leaders of the two clubs, the clubs certainly have more beldis among their ranks, no basis either supports or confirms this difference. On the contrary, the players of the African Club have, from time immemorial, of diverse social and geographical origins and it is the same for their supporters. The African Club and the EST play together in the elite from the 1937–1938 season, the EST having secured its accession to the first series at the end of the 1935–1936 season, the African Club l having joined a year later. The first derby in Ligue I took place on September 26, 1937, during the second day of the 1937–1938 season, and ended with a draw (1-1).

On November 13, 1955, clubman Mounir Kebaili scored in the 65th minute the first goal in the history of the derby since the independence of the country, his teammate Ridha Meddeb doubling the lead in the 71st and allowing his club to win on the score of 2 to 0 against Espérance sportive de Tunis. In 1969, the two clubs meet for the first time in the final of the Tunisian Cup: the African Club won on a score of 2 to 0 thanks to goals scored by Abderrahmane Rahmouni and Tahar Chaibi. The following year, while the African Club leads 1–0 at half-time, the players Esperance Sports Tunis decide not to return to the field for the second half following a corner disputed by the referee in the 41st minute; the FTF decides to replay the game which sees the African Club win on the score of 1 to 0.

On May 5, 1985, the African club won the match 5–1, causing their opponent his second biggest loss in a derby after the 1978 which ended in a score of 5 to 2. In 1995, while Esperance sportive de Tunis lead on a score of 4–0 in the 70th minute, the referee expels the fourth club player and stops the match. In 2006, after a long struggle of 120 minutes, Espérance sportive de Tunis won on penalties in the final of the Tunisian Cup. On January 27, 2007, after nine years without a win, the African Club won with a goal at the 87th Moussa Pokong. On May 1, 2010, for the first time in the league, a derby is played behind closed doors. The longest undefeated period for the African Club takes place between the seasons 1937-1938 and 1947-1948 (seven seasons played in eleven years, four seasons having been canceled due to World War II); EST is experiencing such a period between the 1998–1999 season and the first leg of the 2006–2007 season (8.5 seasons).

During the 2014–2015 season, the derby of the return phase of the championship, decisive for separating the two clubs of the capital on the one hand and the Etoile Sportive du Sahel on the other hand, is held on May 12, 2015. Designated « derby of the century "by some Tunisian media, the match ends with the victory of the club players, future champions of this season by a goal to zero. On January 6, 2019, for the first time in derby history, he plays outside the capital in Monastir due to the closure of the Rades Stadium due to maintenance. Esperance won 2-1

As of 9 November 2025^[update]

Due to intense rivalry between the two clubs, few players have dared to play for both the African Club and Esperance Tunis during their career. Apart from Mohamed Bachtobji, Mohamed Ali Yaakoubi and Ali Abdi, all the others have passed through other clubs, whether in Tunisia or abroad, before playing with the Club Africain or Espérance sportive de Tunis.

Club Africain then Espérance de Tunis

• Ahmed Akaichi
• Mohamed Bachtobji
• Borhene Ghannem
• Walid Hichri
• Dramane Traore
• Khaled Mouelhi
• Karim Aouadhi
• Riadh Jelassi
• Seifeddine Akremi
• Mohamed Ali Yacoubi
• Hicham Belkaroui
• Farouk Ben Mustapha
• Rached Arfaoui
• Larry Azouni
• Chiheb Jebali

Espérance de Tunis then Club Africain

• Slama Kasdaoui
• Anis Amri
• Khaled Korbi
• Nabil Maâloul
• Mohamed Torkhani
• Skander Sheikh
• Foued Slama
• Saber Khalifa
• Ali Abdi
• Oussama Darragi
• Rached Arfaoui
• Kingsley Eduwo
• Tayeb Meziani
• Oussama Shili

Fathi Bouseta is the most governing referee for Derby with six meetings.

In 1995, after the referee took out four red cards, the match was halted in the 70th minute by Esperance (4-0).

• Tunisian refereeing crew: 88 matches
• Foreign referee: 32 matches

The Tunis derby has a huge fan base in Tunisia, especially in the capital and the Greater Tunis region. The derby match has been under preparation for several weeks in order to prepare flags and inputs, which are represented in giant calligraphic images.

Before the Tunisian revolution, derby matches were supported by the fans of the two teams during the revolution. 2016 Both fans were invited to the match and it was one of the greatest derby matches in Tunisian football history.

The Tunis derby is also contested in men’s handball between Club Africain and Espérance Sportive de Tunis. The two clubs meet regularly in the national championship, domestic cup competitions, and continental tournaments, making their encounters among the most prominent fixtures in Tunisian handball. The rivalry often plays a decisive role in the race for domestic honours and attracts intense interest from supporters.^[5][6][7]

While the regular home matches are played at the clubs’ respective arenas, the derbies are usually held at the El Menzah Sports Palace, a central indoor arena in Tunis that has hosted handball and other sports since 1967.^[8][9]