Club Africain Seeks Identity Amidst Inconsistency and Loss of Belonging

Club Africain, once renowned for its consistent performance, strong character, and sense of belonging, is now grappling with a loss of identity and soul. The current season, 2026-2027, appears turbulent for the reigning champions, a paradoxical situation given their recent success.

Recent history shows a recurring pattern for Club Africain: long waits for titles are often followed by periods of deep doubt. This cycle seems ingrained in the club's DNA. After winning the title in 2008 under Ben Chikha, the club endured a seven-year barren spell. A similar scenario unfolded after the 2015 championship, leading to a ten-year drought.

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with the introduction of semi-professionalism first, and professionalism afterwards, the club has lost its bearings and its references. Because the new players recruited could not internalize the values of the club.

However, under the leadership of the late Azzouz Lasram, Club Africain built its reputation on consistent performance and long periods of dominance. Raffaâ Ben Achour, a former club official, attributes the current struggles to the shift towards semi-professionalism and then professionalism. He believes new recruits fail to internalize the club's values, leading to a loss of belonging and mental fragility.

Despite a period of collective commitment last year that secured the championship against EST, the team quickly reverted to old habits. Key factors contributing to this relapse include the departure of key players, the exit of Benzarti, and the controversial appointment of Maher Kanzari as coach. Kanzari's technical skills are not in doubt, but past experiences, like Nabil Maâloul's incident in 1996, have left deep scars.

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Belonging is not learned, it is innate, and that is the whole difference. And this certainly explains this mental fragility and lack of character.