Businessmen, shopkeepers and local politicians were under siege here on Friday as they braced themselves for an invasion of around 20,000 Algerian football fans ahead of Sunday's African Nations Cup quarter-final clash against local rivals Morocco.
"We are a conservative country." said one buisnessman. "We are not used to these type of situations."
Their fears were sparked earlier in the day when security officials warned local football fans not to attend the potentially explosive match at the Taeib M'hiri stadium.
It only holds 22,000 and, as a result, organisers took what they described as "extraordinary measures" to prevent trouble.
"Fortunately, the match is on a Sunday and we hope to return to our shops on Monday morning and things will be alright," said Ammal, a clothes shop owner who was pulling down the shutters on his town centre store.
"The Algerian fans will be a menace if their team loses," said another.
With around 20,000 Algerian supporters expected to make the short trip across the border for the north African derby, organising committee member Ben Amar Hamed has told locals hoping to get into the stadium to stay away.
The ground will be packed to the rafters just as every Algeria match was when the team played their group games in Sousse.
As a result, organisers are worried about the security implications.
After the team's win over Egypt in the first round, the Algerian Football Federation was hit with a 5,000-dollar fine because of their fans' behaviour which included throwing missiles on to the pitch.
One even landed in the VIP area.
"This is why I am asking the people of Sfax to stay away from the stadium and leave the place open for foreigners. I know it will be disappointing for them," said Hamed.
Sfax governer Mohamed Tounsi also got involved, meeting local police chiefs to discuss the security situation for another game which, like the clash between Algeria and Egypt, will be classed high-risk.