The absence of “Youssef Msakni”, the captain and star of the Tunisian team Esperance, from the team’s roster heading to face the Financial Stadium in the African Champions League next Sunday, has raised great astonishment among the club’s fans.
“Al-Masakni” (35 years old) had participated as a substitute player in Esperance’s match against Tanzania’s Simba, which ended in a draw (2-2) in the fourth round, but he was absent from traveling with the team to Mali.
The Esperance delegation, which won the African Champions League title four times, headed on Friday to the Malian capital, Bamako, on a direct flight, in preparation for facing “Mali Stadium”, the leader of Group D, next Sunday evening at exactly seven o’clock Mecca time.
The absence of “Youssef Msakni” at this time raised speculation about his future with the team, especially with his lack of participation since his return to his club last November, after the end of his contract with the Qatari Al-Arabi Club.
However, sources from within Esperance explained that “Al-Maskani” apologized for traveling with the team due to an emergency family situation, which was that his father, “Al-Mundhir Al-Maskani,” suffered a severe health illness that required him to be transferred to the hospital and admitted to intensive care.
Sources close to the player confirmed that his father, a former Tunisian international player and former Esperance star, suffered a sudden health crisis on Thursday evening, which prompted “Youssef Msakni” to stay by his side and not travel with the team.
Press reports indicate that “Al-Masakni” will return to team training next Monday, after the delegation returns from Mali.
Since his return to Esperance, Youssef Msakni has participated in four matches, including his participation as a substitute in the second half of Simba Tanzania’s last match.
On the other hand, Esperance will regain the services of the defensive duo “Yassine Meriah” and “Mohamed Ben Ali” in the Stade Mali match, while the midfielder “Abderrahmane Konate” continues to be absent.
Esperance occupies second place in Group Four with 6 points, two points behind the leaders “Stade de la Financial”. (Arm News)
