Egyptian side Smouha made history on their maiden African Champions League appearance after a last-gasp goal gave them a 2-0 home win over DR Congo’s AC Leopards and a place in the competition’s group stage on Saturday.
The Alexandria-based club, who lost 1-0 in the first leg, leveled the aggregate score when attacking midfielder Ahmed Shoukri curled a free kick into the back of the net in the 24th minute.
And just when the match looked as though it was heading for penalty shootout, striker Salah Amin notched the decisive goal in stoppage time to help Smouha book a last-eight berth at Africa’s elite club competition.
Smouha also overcame some illustrious opponents in the preliminary rounds, having defeated Libya’s Ahly Tripoli before beating Nigeria’s Enyimba, who won the Champions League twice in 2003 and 2004, to set up a meeting with Leopards.
