Photo courtesy of Patrice Beaumelle's Instagram account.
The Tunisian side built on their 1-0 first-leg advantage to seal qualification, recording a historic result after beating Ahly home and away in the quarter-final.
“I’m happy with the win and the result. We will celebrate today, and starting tomorrow we will begin working for the upcoming matches,” Beaumelle told reporters after the match.
He praised his team’s collective display, highlighting their second-half superiority. “I tried to motivate the players, and we scored three goals. The whole team performed well, not just Danho,” he said, adding: “We were better than Ahly in the second half, and we were determined not to miss the chance to reach the semi-finals.”
Looking ahead, Beaumelle said his side are ready for a potential clash with South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns. “They won the first leg by a big score, but what we showed today means we can deliver a strong performance against them in the semi-finals,” he noted.
The French coach also stressed the importance of discipline during the match. “Some of our players don’t like losing possession, so I asked them to stay patient and avoid any recklessness against Ahly,” he said.
Beaumelle singled out defender Hamza Jelassi for special praise. “Jelassi is a hero. He played while injured. I also dedicate this win to the fans who supported us, including those who came to the hotel and even travelled from France to back the team,” he added.
Reflecting on the atmosphere, he said he was familiar with Cairo Stadium’s intensity. “I have been here before in front of a crowd during Egypt vs Zambia in 2009 with 80,000 fans. I know their impact well. If Ahly fans had been present, it would have motivated us, as I enjoy playing in front of supporters,” he said.
Esperance will face the winner of the tie between Mamelodi Sundowns and Mali’s Stade Malien in the semi-finals, while Ahly exit the competition alongside fellow Egyptian side Pyramids FC, who were also knocked out.
Goalkeeper Bechir Ben Said also praised the team’s display, saying they delivered a “very big match” and remained defensively solid. “We tried to avoid conceding many goals, and the players did not fall short in anything,” he told beIN Sports, dedicating the win to the fans.
Jelassi revealed he was determined to feature despite injury, saying his winning goal was a reward for the supporters. “What we achieved is the result of the efforts of the entire team, the management, and the fans,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mohamed Amin Tougai described the victory as redemption after a long wait for success against Ahly. “We hadn’t beaten Ahly for seven years, so this is a form of redemption,” he said, dedicating the win to fans celebrating Eid Al-Fitr.
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