Hussein el Shahat’s Goal Secured Al Ahly’s Fourth Straight CAF Champions League Final
Al Ahly, 10-time CAFCL winners, sealed their place in the CAF Champions League final with a 1-0 victory over Esperance of Tunisia on Friday. This win, combined with their commanding 3-0 first-leg lead in Rades seven days ago, resulted in a resounding 4-0 aggregate triumph for Al Ahly.
Al Ahly’s latest victory in the CAF Champions League semi-finals marks their fourth consecutive season in which they have secured a four-goal advantage over their opponents.
Ahly Sets Sights on 16th Final and 11th Champions League Title
Ahly’s path to their 16th final in the CAF Champions League keeps them on track to pursue their record-extending 11th title.
In a match where the Red Devils outplayed a lackluster Esperance side, they consistently created numerous scoring opportunities. The breakthrough came in the 22nd minute when Hussein El Shahat expertly converted a precise long pass from Percy Tau, skillfully evading the Tunisian goalkeeper and confidently finding the back of the net.
Ahly’s Domination Continues as Esperance Struggles to Respond
Esperance found it challenging to mount any significant response, and Ahly’s goalkeeper Ali Lotfi, deputizing for the injured Mohamed El Shennawy, had little to do in the first half.
Maintaining their control over the game, the hosts relentlessly pushed forward. El Shahat came close to doubling his team’s lead as he intercepted a loose ball in the penalty area, only to be denied by defender Mohamed Tougai, who cleared the shot off the goal line.
Ahly’s substitutes, Ahmed Abdel-Kader and Taher Mohamed Taher, had their chances to extend the lead, but their efforts fell short, resulting in a narrow yet comfortable victory.
Now, Ahly eagerly awaits the outcome of Saturday’s match between Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa and Wydad of Morocco in the second leg of the semifinals. The first leg in Casablanca ended in a goalless draw, heightening the anticipation for the final showdown.
