Egypt’s Al Ahly secured their 12th CAF Champions League title with a slender 1-0 victory over Tunisia’s Esperance in a dramatic finale at Cairo’s International Stadium.
The only goal of the match, an unfortunate own-goal by Roger Aholou, was enough to crown Al Ahly champions on aggregate, following a goalless draw in the first leg.
Al Ahly’s historic win also marked them as the third team ever to clinch the Champions League title while remaining unbeaten throughout the tournament, boasting nine wins and five draws. The match saw Al Ahly’s coach Marcel Koller making a strategic substitution due to Ali Maaloul’s injury, bringing in Karim Fouad. Goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir continued his impressive form, having not conceded a goal in eight matches.
Esperance, under the guidance of coach Miguel Cardoso, remained unchanged from their previous lineup. Despite their goalkeeper Amanallah Memmiche’s stellar record of clean sheets, he was unable to stop the decisive goal early in the game.
The home team, supported by a sea of red in the stands, dominated the first half with multiple close attempts by Wessam Abou Ali and Percy Tau. Esperance’s Yan Sasse’s free-kick misfire epitomized their struggle in the initial 45 minutes.
The second half saw a more balanced game, with Esperance narrowly missing an equalizer. Al Ahly’s nerves were apparent as the match neared its end, with Shobeir receiving a caution for time-wasting.
In a final push, Koller’s late offensive substitutions nearly doubled their lead, but Mohamed ‘Afsha’ Magdy’s free-kick struck the crossbar, leaving the scoreline at a tense 1-0. This victory not only celebrates Al Ahly’s triumph but also completes a double celebration for Cairo, following Zamalek’s Confederation Cup win.
