An early own goal from Roger Aholou secured a 1-0 victory for Al Ahly of Egypt against Tunisian side Esperance, earning them a record-extending 12th CAF Champions League title.
This victory, following a goalless draw in the first leg, allowed Al Ahly to triumph 1-0 on aggregate and claim their fourth consecutive title in Africa’s premier club competition.
Al Ahly’s remarkable journey saw them become only the third team in history to win the Champions League with an unbeaten record, amassing nine wins and five draws across their 14 qualifying, group, and knockout matches. Their success was not just a testament to their dominance but also to the quality of their performances throughout the tournament.
The Cairo giants’ latest triumph adds to a memorable season, completing a double following their arch-rivals Zamalek’s victory in the CAF Confederation Cup the previous weekend.
In the decisive match, Al Ahly’s coach Marcel Koller made one forced change to his lineup, with Karim Fouad stepping in for the injured Ali Maaloul, who sustained an injury seven minutes into the first leg in Tunisia. Despite this alteration, Koller’s side displayed resilience and tactical discipline to secure the win.
Esperance, under the guidance of coach Miguel Cardoso, who was in search of his first managerial trophy after stints in Portugal, France, Spain, and Greece, named an unchanged side from the first leg.
However, their plans were thwarted early on when goalkeeper Amanallah Memmiche, who had kept 12 clean sheets in his previous 13 Champions League appearances this season, conceded due to Aholou’s own goal just four minutes into the match in Cairo.
The early setback proved insurmountable for Esperance, as Al Ahly maintained their defensive solidity and strategic discipline to see out the match.
Despite several attempts, the Tunisian side could not break through the well-organized Ahly defense, culminating in a narrow yet historic victory for the Egyptian club.
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