While the Club World Cup is in full swing, supporters of Tunis Sports Hope created the event far from the stadiums. In the heart of New York, in Times Square, the fans of blood and gold have ignited the famous place in a festive and overwhelmed atmosphere.
To the sound of drums and emblematic songs of the club, draped in red and yellow, fans have transformed the most emblematic avenue of Manhattan into a real popular platform. Wind flags, slogans scored with fervor: Hope was in the spotlight, under giant screens and the surprised looks of passers -by.
A second rally is planned today, at 6 p.m. (New York time), at the restaurant Liberty Pointin Philadelphia. This place, which can accommodate up to a thousand people, has been completely reserved for Esperance supporters. A preparatory meeting for the match will be held there, organized by the Committee responsible for the reception and coordination of fans on site.
This New York effervescence occurs while Esperance is preparing to enter the competition. The Tunisian club will face Flamengo on the night of Monday, June 16 to Tuesday, June 17, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. The kick-off will be given at 9 p.m. (local time, GMT-4), at 2 a.m. in Tunisia.
This meeting, which marks the start of a crucial tournament, opposes two heavyweights of continental football. Flamengo, a recent champion of the Copa Libertadores, arrives with an experienced and formidable workforce. Names such as Danilo, Alex Sandro or Jorginho bear witness to the power of the Brazilian team, renowned for their intense and rhythmic game.
Faced with this South American giant, hope is advancing with ambition. Crowded with a double championship-cut and finalist of the last African Champions League, the Tunisian training intends to demonstrate that it can stand up to the best world teams. The Algerian international Youcef Belaïli, in great shape, will be one of the major assets of hope. Its creativity and its ability to make the difference in key moments could well destabilize the opposing defense.
The stakes are high: a victory would allow you to get closer to the direct elimination phases, while a defeat would place the team under pressure for the rest of the tournament. For players of hope, it will not only be a tactical solid performance, but also to wear the colors of African football high in the face of a world reference.
