Tunisian Ligue Professionnelle 1
The Tunisian Ligue Professionnelle 1 is the top-tier professional football league in Tunisia,
organized by the Tunisian Football Federation (FTF).
Founded in 1956 after the country gained independence, it is one of Africa’s
most competitive and historically successful leagues, featuring giants like
Espérance de Tunis, Étoile du Sahel, and Club Africain.
History and facts
The league started in 1956 and quickly became one of North Africa’s elite competitions. Tunisian clubs have excelled in continental tournaments, especially Espérance de Tunis, one of Africa’s most successful teams.
The league is known for producing top African talents and maintaining strong domestic rivalries, particularly the heated derby between Club Africain and Espérance.
Tunisian clubs frequently compete in the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup, consistently ranking among Africa’s strongest leagues.
League system
Ligue Professionnelle 1 currently features 14 teams.
The bottom clubs are relegated to Ligue Professionnelle 2,
while the top teams from Ligue 2 are promoted each season.
Table 1. Tunisian football league pyramid
| League | Tier |
|---|---|
| Ligue Professionnelle 1 | 1 |
| Ligue Professionnelle 2 | 2 |
| Ligue Professionnelle 3 | 3 |
Below Ligue 3 are regional amateur competitions.
Stats
Teams with most titles
Table 2. Most Ligue Professionnelle 1 titles
| Club | Titles |
|---|---|
| Espérance de Tunis | 33 |
| Club Africain | 13 |
| Étoile du Sahel | 10 |
| CS Sfaxien | 8 |
| CA Bizertin | 1 |
Espérance is the most dominant club in Tunisia with numerous league and CAF titles.
Teams with most league participation
Table 3. Most seasons in Ligue 1
| Club | Seasons |
|---|---|
| Espérance de Tunis | 65+ |
| Club Africain | 60+ |
| Étoile du Sahel | 60+ |
| CS Sfaxien | 55+ |
| CA Bizertin | 50+ |
These historic clubs form the core of Tunisian football.
Audience
Major stadiums
Table 4. Major stadiums in Tunisia
| Stadium | Home Club | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Stade Olympique de Radès | Tunisia NT / Espérance (sometimes) | 60,000 |
| Stade Hammadi Agrebi | Espérance | 60,000 |
| Stade Olympique de Sousse | Étoile du Sahel | 25,000 |
| Stade Taïeb Mhiri | CS Sfaxien | 15,000 |
| Stade 15 Octobre | CA Bizertin | 20,000 |
Players
Famous players
- Wahbi Khazri
- Youssef Msakni
- Ali Maâloul
- Tijani Belaïd
- Radhi Jaïdi
- Tarik Dhiab
- Oussama Haddadi
- Khaled Badra
Tunisian Ligue 1 timeline
1956
League is founded after Tunisian independence.
1980s
Espérance and Club Africain dominate the competition.
1995
Étoile du Sahel rises as a major Tunisian and African force.
2010
Professionalization reforms are introduced.
2020s
Botola becomes a regular CAF Champions League contender.
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunisian_Ligue_Professionnelle_1
https://www.ftf.org.tn
https://rsssf.org
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunisian_Ligue_Professionnelle_1
https://www.ftf.org.tn
https://rsssf.org
