CAF CL: Esperance Coach blames, CAF, Referee For Defeat

CAFF CL: Esperance Coach blames, CAF Referee For Defeat By Admin Esperance coach Mouine Chaabani has blamed the referee for his side’s loss against Al Ahly in the first-leg of the CAF Champions League. The Tunisian side suffered a 3-1 defeat to Al Ahly at Borg El-Arab ahead of the return-leg which will take place on Friday, November 9 at Stade Olympique de Radès. Algerian referee Mehdi Abid Charef awarded three penalties [two to Al Ahly] and booked both Dhaouadi and Kom, who will now miss the return leg in Rades next Friday. Chaabani wasn’t happy with the referee’s performance and had something to say about the reception they received in Cairo. “We were very shocked by the reception we have received in Cairo. We would never have expected that,” Chaabani said. “The Security stopped our bus for more than 25 minutes in front of the doors of the stadium, they didn’t want to let us in, which caused to delay our warm-up before the game. “When Al Ahly come to Tunisia, we always welcome him in the best way. They beat us in Rades and lifted the title there and we didn’t cause them any trouble. “I challenge the game referee or any person in the world, to prove the yellow cards obtained by Franck Kom and Chamseddine Dhaouadi were correct. “It is clear that there was a tendency for the game to go in a certain way and to end in a certain result for a particular team. “I want to ask a question to the CAF, how does the referees’ camp for VAR technology reside in Cairo, how does that happen with Al Ahly part of the final?” he concluded.