LIVE: Al Ahly v Esperance | CAF Champions League final 1st leg

Match K.O. at 21:00 Cairo local time
Venue: Borg El-Arab stadium, Alexandria
Referee: Mehdi Abid Charef (Algeria)

Al Ahly, who host their North African rivals Esperance in the first leg at Alexandria’s Borg El-Arab Stadium on Friday, are determined not to let another trophy slip out of their grasp following an agonising defeat by Morocco’s Wydad Casablanca in last year’s final.

They are aware the result of Friday’s first-leg would be crucial, given that they paid the price of a disappointing 1-1 draw at home to Wydad last year which left them with an uphill climb in the return leg.

Wydad won the second leg 1-0 to clinch the title and Ahly would be desperate not to leave their destiny solely hanging on their ability to remain cool in the face of relentless and vociferous chants from the die-hard supporters of North African outfits.

Esperance’s passionate fans roared them on in Rades as they claimed a thrilling 4-2 comeback win over Angola’s plucky side Primeiro de Agosto in the semi-final second leg for a 4-3 aggregate victory.

But even in the worst-case scenario of Ahly failing to win at home, they would still have every reason to believe they can pull off another remarkable win in Rades, home of the venue where the Red Devils’ supporters fondly boast of having anecdotes.

Apart from long-term absentees Junior Ajayi and Ali Maaloul, Ahly will have a fully-fit squad to choose from.

Ahly met Esperance twice in the group stage this year, drawing 0-0 at home and winning 1-0 in Rades.