page_title: Étoile Sportive du Sahel
section_title: Local stability (1978–1993)
hierarchical_section_title: Étoile Sportive du Sahel / History / Local stability (1978–1993)
caption_attribution_description: Français&#160;: Mohsen Habacha, ancien joueur de l'Étoile du Sahel dans les années 1970
context_page_description: The Étoile Sportive du Sahel, is a sports club from Sousse in the Sahel region of Tunisia, known primarily for its football and basketball team. The club also has sections for handball, volleyball, judo and wrestling. ESS was founded on 11 May 1925 after a general meeting under the chairmanship of Chedly Boujemla, Ali Laârbi and Ahmed Zaklaoui, at the headquarters of the Association of the ancient French-Arab School in Laroussi Zarouk Street, in the heart of the ancient city of Sousse. The aim of the meeting was to establish a sports education society. The Tunisian flag was chosen in the selection of the colors of the team. The red shirt with the star and the white shorts. The French colonial authorities prevented the use of these colors, but with the insistence of the team leaders they prevailed and in the latter they played this kit. In English the name means Sport Star of the Sahel
  In Tunisia, Étoile du Sahel is considered to be one of the best clubs. For many years it had a reputation of playing entertaining football. In fact, the club has evolved recently into a more professional outfit capable of winning trophies at home and abroad.
context_section_description: A new generation has been set up after the World Cup after the departure of international players such as Raouf Ben Aziza, who went to play in the Saudi Professional League with Al-Nassr. ES Sahel finished in the third place in the local championship and was defeated by JS Kairouan 1–0 in the Tunisian Cup in the round of 16 to leave early.
  The 1980 season was similar to the previous one after finishing in the same position and went out in the cup of the same round against CS Sfaxien 1–0.
  In the following season, the president Hamed Karoui left the team to devote himself to political work after 20 years as president of the team to be the longest-serving president. The club's son Mohsen Habacha was also appointed as coach of the team and despite the fact that the team reached fourth place in the league, he managed to win the Tunisian Cup after beating Stade Tunisien 3–1.
  In 1982, ESS remained in the same positions and finished third in the league and went out in the quarterfinals of the Cup against CA Bizertin 2–1.
  In 1983, the team came in the sixth place in the local league despite winning the Tunisian Cup after winning the final against the AS Marsa 2–1.
  In 1984 the team finished third in the championship and came out of the Cup in the 16th round against CS Hammam-Lif 2–1. The following year, the team finished fourth and also lost in the cup against CS Sfaxien 2–1 in the quarter-finals.
  Coach Amor Dhib, who despite his failure in the Tunisian Cup, was forced to leave in the 16th round against Espérance 2–0, but managed to restore the local league to the team's coffers after a 14-year absence. They won also the Tunisian Super Cup for the second time in their history by beating Espérance.
  In 1986, the young coach Faouzi Benzarti was appointed as head coach of the team. At the age of 37, he succeeded in winning the local league for the second time in a row, in addition to the exit from the Tunisian Cup in the 16th round against CO Transports on penalties. The team also won the local Super Cup for the second time in front of the CA Bizertin. The team also participated in 1987 Arab Club Champions Cup, they passed the first round against JS Kabylie and Raja Casablanca before withdrawing in the second round defeat against the Iraqi Al-Rasheed and the Saudi Al-Ittihad.
  And in the late eighties and early nineties the level of the team fell to miss the podiums and the period was also accompanied by a significant change in the number of coaches and in the management of the team which did not know the stability after the arrival of more than one president during that period, they finished in fifth place in 1988 and came out of the Cup in the semi-finals against Club Africain on penalties and in 1989 the team finished third in the league and also lost in the semifinals again against Espérance 1–0. The team also participated in the 1989 Arab Club Champions Cup, which passed the first round which includes JS Kabylie and CLAS Casablanca and reached the semi-finals after the victory over Wydad Casablanca before the defeat against Al-Hilal of Saudi Arabia.
  In 1990 the team finished the season in fourth place and also suffered a spectacular defeat in the 16th round of the Tunisian Cup in front of the Océano Club de Kerkennah 3–0.
  In 1991, Faouzi Benzarti returned to coach the team and finished third, and reached the final of the cup before losing to Espérance 2–1 at El Menzah Stadium. In 1992, ESS finished the season in fifth place and came out of Tunisia Cup in the semi-final against Club Africain on penalties.
  The 1993 season was disastrous for the team as they came in the ninth-place, the worst position they have ever had since the Tunisian independence, and a humiliating defeat against AS Marsa 4–0 in the semi-finals of the Cup. The president of the team, Hammadi Mestiri left the team that season to succeed him the club's son Othman Jenayah in the presidency of the club.
caption: Mohsen Habacha, coach from 1980 to 1983 and won 2 Tunisian Cups.
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