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Five Esperance players Hearts should look out for

Allsports.com.gh profiles five players from the Esperance team that Hearts of Oak should look out for as both teams look to clash in the CAF Confederations Cup.

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Oussama Darragi 

Oussama Darragi is the captain of Esperance de Tunis. He is widely considered as one of the most exciting players of this side, widely praised for his creative play-making.

The 28-year-old made his debut in 2013 and has gone on to be one of the most potent attacking weapons.

His performance earned him a place in the Tunisia squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. On 6 September 2009, Tunisia travelled to face Nigeria in a crucial qualifier. With the visitors trailing 2–1, Darragi scored in the 89th minute to earn a draw for his team.

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Darragi is a hard working midfielder who has a bit of goals in his legs too. He has played nine games and has six goals to his name this season.

Yannick N'Djeng

Cameroonian star Yannick N'Djeng joined Tunisian Espérance in July 2011 on a transfer fee rumored to be around €600,000 from USM Algiers and has certainly lived up to his huge price tag.

The 27 year old, who has played for Algerian duo JSM Béjaïa has pace and even though he does not score enough goals is a huge asset for the team.

N'Djeng is very effective around the box, with his deft touches and surging runs. The absence of a 'weaker foot' also makes him very lethal in it.

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Ahmed Akaichi

Needs no introduction. Akaichi is not only the face of Esperance, he is in many ways an embodiment of where the Tunisia club wants to be in the next few years.

The 26-year-old who has played for German second division club FC Ingolstadt 04, is also a key figure in the Tunisian national team, earning his first call up when he was selected for the 2010 African Cup of Nations, held in Angola.

Akaichi was one of the stars of the Carthage Eagles during their ran at this year’s AFCON in Equatorial Guinea.

His greatest strength is his ability to link play in the attacking areas and his ice cold finishing. Hearts should look out for shooting and decoy runs.

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Harrison Afful

Nicknamed Affulinho by Esperance fans, Harrison Afful moved to Tunisia in 2009, after spending two years in Ghana playing for Hearts of Oak's fiercest rivals Asante Kotoko.

The 28-year-old has been very instrumental in the Esperance set up, playing 18 games and scoring two goals this season.

The lateral defender-cum-midfielder has been widely tipped to provide the needed attacking width to the Esperance side, with his trickery and pace.

He will relish the chance to torment Accra Hearts of Oak in what will be his first domestic visit since he left Kotoko.

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Hocine Ragued

Hocine Ragued is the oldest player in the Esperance team. Born on 11 February 1983, the 32-year-old is a product of Paris St. German's youth rank.

Since making his debut for PSG over 10 years ago, the veteran box-to-box midfielder has gone on to play at Slavia Prague and Mons, and is currently one of the key players at Esperance having signed in 2012 from Turkish side Karabukspor.

He is the brains of the Esperance side with his pin point passing and vision.

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