Ramy Rabia of Al Ahly celebrates goal with teammates during the 2023/24CAF Champions League Final, Second Leg between Al Ahly and Esperance at the Cairo International Stadium in Cairo, Egypt on the 25 May 2024 ©Djaffar Ladjal/BackpagePix
Saturday May 25, 2024. 21:02
Al Ahly claimed a record-extending 12th CAF Champions League title after they defeated Esperance 1-0 in the second leg of the final, held at the Cairo International Stadium on Saturday evening.
An early own goal from the Blood and Gold’s Roger Aholou proved the difference between the teams – both on the night and in the two-legged final overall, as the Red Eagles won 1-0 on aggregate for a third continental crown in the past four editions of the Champions League.
The Egyptian hosts put in a composed and controlled performance, giving their Tunisian visitors no clear scoring opportunities through the 90 minutes, while offering a potent if sporadic threat of their own through the running power of Emam Ashour and Percy Tau, as well as the craft of Hussein El Shahat.
Ahly got off to the perfect start in the match, claiming the lead in the fifth minute. El Shahat’s corner kick was glanced on by captain Rami Rabia and then deflected into the goal by Esperance midfielder Roger Aholou.
The hosts threatened to add to their advantage in the opening half hour, with Wessam Abou Ali and Tau sending respective shots just wide, while El Shahat stung the palms of Esperance goalkeeper Aman Memmiche with a long range drive in the 36th minute.
The Tunisians had enjoyed plenty of the ball through the first half and continued that into the second, but their first real threat on goal only arrived just past the hour mark when Yan Sasse exchanged passes with Rodrigo Rodrigues outside the box before whipping an effort just wide of the target.
The Red Eagles clearly recognised the danger posed by their opponents and went up a couple of gears in the final quarter, with Ashour forcing an excellent save from Memmiche in the 80th minute.
And on 88 minutes Al Ahly were inches away from killing off Esperance, as substitute Mohamed Afsha struck a fine effort direct from a free kick which rebounded off the crossbar.
Nonetheless, the Egyptian club secured the victory and yet more African club glory. They will go on to face CAF Confederation Cup champions and arch rivals Zamalek in the next edition of the CAF Super Cup.
Al Ahly (1) 1 (Aholou og 5’)
Esperance de Tunis 0
First leg 0-0; Al Ahly won 1-0 on aggregate.
Al Ahly: Shobeir, Hany, Rabia, Abdelmonem, Fouad, Ashour (T. Mohamed 90+2’, Ateya (Afsha 78’), Tawfik, El Shahat (Yasser Ibrahim 90+2’), Tau (Dieng 67’), Abou Ali (Kahraba 78’)
Esperance: Memmiche, Ben Ali (Bouchniba 46’), Meriah, Tougai, Ben Hamida, Chaaleli, Aholou (Bouguerra 85’), Yan Sasse (Ben Hammouda 85’), Teka (Ogbelu 76’), Ghacha (Bukia 76’), Rodrigues
