TUNISIA’S ESPERANCE TO FACE AL SADD AT CLUB WORLD CUP

By NBF News

African champions Esperance will face Al Sadd in the quarter-finals of the 2011 Club World Cup (CWC) in Japan next month.

The match will be played on 11 December in Toyota after Thursday's draw in Nagoya on Thursday.

Should Esperance beat Al Sadd, a semi-final date awaits with Barcelona, the Spanish side who won this year's Uefa Champions League.

The semi-finals of the CWC clash will be played in Yokohama on 15 December.

Esperance president Riadh Bennour is confident they will emulate last year's African representatives, TP Mazembe of DR Congo, by reaching the final.

“It's a good draw,” Bennour said.
Esperance's African triumphs
“Everyone is expecting to see a final between Santos and Barcelona but maybe they can watch a final between Esperance and Santos instead! We will try to make it happen, that's for sure.”

South American champions Santos, the other semi-final seeds, will face the winners between CONCACAF champions Monterrey and the side who survive the only first-round match, in Toyota on 14 December.

The first round will pit Oceanian champions Auckland City against the J-League champions, representing hosts Japan, in Toyota on 8 December.

The J-League title has been hotly contested by Kashiwa Reysol, Gamba Osaka and Nagoya Grampus, who are locked within three points with three rounds to go before the final day on 3 December.

The two quarter-final matches will be held in Toyota on 11 December.

The tournament runs between 08-18 December in Japan.

Esperance qualifed for the Club World Cup on Saturday after winning the African Champions League title.

Ghanaian defender Harrison Afful got the only goal of the tie as the Tunisians overcame Wydad Casablanca 1-0 on aggregate to claim the continental crown.