Al Ahly secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Simba SC in a pivotal CAF Champions League quarter-final match, thanks to a late goal by Ahmed Koka.
The young midfielder, a product of Al Ahly’s youth system, found the net in front of a packed stadium in Dar es Salaam, marking his first goal in the African campaign.
The decisive moment came after Amr el Solia’s precise pass enabled Mohamed Hany to deliver a cross that, due to a defensive error by Simba, allowed Koka to score against goalkeeper Ayoub Lakred.
Despite multiple opportunities, Simba was unable to capitalize, largely due to Mostafa Shobeir’s exceptional goalkeeping. Shobeir, following in the footsteps of his father and former national goalkeeper, stood in admirably for the injured team captain, Mohamed el Shenawy.
The win positions Al Ahly favorably for the return leg in Cairo, where they aim to secure a spot in the semi-finals against either Petro Luanda or TP Mazembe.
The upcoming matches see TP Mazembe facing Petro Luanda, Young Africans taking on Mamelodi Sundowns, and Esperance battling ASEC Mimosas.
Al Ahly, with a record 11 Champions League titles, leads a prestigious group of past winners, including five-time champions Mazembe, four-time winners Esperance, and single-title holders ASEC and Sundowns. Simba’s fourth quarter-final appearance since 1997 hints at a potential repeat exit at this stage.
This year’s Champions League has seen a notable shift, with only two teams from the traditionally dominant north African region, Al Ahly and Esperance, advancing to the knockout stages, a significant decrease from the previous minimum of four.
