A first-half goal by Esperance striker Joseph N’Djeng condemned a lackluster Ahly side to a 1-0 defeat in Saturday’s CAF Champions League at 7 November Stadium in Rades, leaving the Egyptian champions with a tough task to reach the semis.
The Cameroonian capitalized on some slack defending to score the winner just before the quarter-hour mark before only 5,000 Esperance fans who were allowed to enter the stadium after Tunisian authorities opted to limit the number of spectators due to security reasons.
Ahly, who failed to threaten Esperance in the first half, squandered some easy opportunities in the second half to deal a blow to their chances of booking a last-four berth, having been held to a 3-3 home draw by Morocco’s Wydad Casablanca in their group stage opener.
Esperance could have doubled their advantage with 19 minutes remaining but playmaker Oussama Darragi failed to convert a penalty which was controversially given to the hosts by the referee.
Ahly, who were recently crowned Egyptian Premier League champions, could not avenge their last season’s semi-final exit at the hands of Esperance.
