Tunisian club Espérance will be on the flight back home after being knocked out of the FIFA Club World Cup.
Espérance finished third in Group D following their 3-0 loss to Chelsea in the early hours of Wednesday in a match played at Lincoln Field in Philadelphia, United States (US).
“Football is played for 90 minutes, including wasted time. We played the first 45 minutes but forgot about the wasted time,” reflected Espérance head coach Maher Kanzari, whose side conceded two goals just before the interval and another one in injury time before the end.
“We lost focus during the wasted time of the first half, during the free kick. Before that, we were very good on the counterattack and created danger near their goal. Yes, they had chances too because of the difference in quality, of course, but we were excellent tactically.
“After the first goal, the second came quickly also because of a lack of focus. The first half decided the match. Nothing important happened in the second half,” added Kanzari.
Espérance will bank R203 million after their group stage exit.
They will receive a participation fee of $9.55 million (R170 million), plus $2 million (R36 million) for their one win in the group, which came against Los Angeles.
However, Espérance received a whopping nine yellow cards in their three matches, and the cost of each card is $12,000, and the total for all cards is $108,000 (R1.9 million).
This money will be deducted from their overall total, which means they take home $11.44 million (R203 million).
As it stands, Mamelodi Sundowns, playing out of Group F, remain the only African representative, and they are in action on Wednesday evening.
Espérance, Al Ahly, and Wydad Casablanca have all been sent packing.
