CAF Champions League
Nigeria’s Junior Ajayi is Hero of Al Ahly’s Victory
Al Ahly of Egypt shocked hosts Esperance of Tunisia 2-1 Saturday to reach the CAF Champions League semi-finals with Nigerian Junior Ajayi scoring the decisive goal.
After holding record eight-time champions Ahly 2-2 in Alexandria last weekend, Esperance took a second-leg lead through leading scorer Taha Yassine Khenissi off a 40th-minute penalty.
Tunisian defender Ali Maaloul levelled for Ahly soon after half-time and midfielder Ajayi struck the crucial second goal on 62 minutes.
Winning at the 60,000-capacity Stade Olympique in Tunis suburb Rades gave Ahly a 4-3 overall victory and a semi-finals date with Etoile Sahel of Tunisia or Al Ahly Tripoli of Libya.
History repeated itself as Ahly won 2-1 at the same ground to win the 2012 Champions League final after being held at home in the first leg.
“Nothing has been decided,” Ahly coach Hossam El Badry warned the Tunisian media after the first leg last Saturday in which the Egyptians had to come from behind to draw.
Ahly had not impressed on the road in previous Champions League matches this season, winning only one of four, and failing to score in three matches.
The home form of Esperance had been good with three victories, and a draw against defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa.
USM Alger of Algeria also reached the semi-finals, but not in the anticipated manner after only drawing 0-0 at home against surprise quarter-finalists Ferroviario Beira of Mozambique.
Favoured to win comfortably having struck 11 goals in four other home Champions League matches, USM scraped through on away goals after a 1-1 aggregate tie.
Ferroviario, who had conceded 11 goals on the road during four losses, bowed out after a brave showing in Algiers.
Sundowns defend a 1-0 lead over Wydad Casablanca of Morocco in Rabat late Saturday and Etoile host Ahly Tripoli Sunday after a goalless first leg.
Egypt’s Pyramids claimed a deserved 2-1 victory over Mamelodi Sundowns from South Africa. This led to a 3-2 aggregate success. They celebrated their first African Champions League title. This triumph occurred following the second leg of this year’s final at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo on Sunday.
The first leg in Pretoria finished 1-1. Fiston Mayele gave Pyramids the lead on 23 minutes. He profited from a Sundowns defensive error. Ahmed Samy doubled the advantage on 56 minutes. He scored with a header from a free-kick.
Sundowns pulled a goal back through Iqraam Rayners with 15 minutes remaining. One more goal would have given them victory in the tie on the away goals rule. However, Pyramids held firm despite heavy pressure from the visitors.
Pyramids are the fourth Egyptian side to lift the Champions League trophy after record 12-time winners Al Ahly, Zamalek, and Ismaily. Meanwhile, 2016 champions Sundowns head to this month’s Club World Cup in the United States on a low note.
-Reuters
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- 1. Pyramids aim to become the first new CAF Champions League winner since Sundowns (2016), the 13th in the modern era, and the 27th overall.
- 2. This is the 19th Champions League-era final featuring an Egyptian club. Previous teams (Al Ahly 10, Zamalek 1) have won 11 titles.
- 3. Including the pre-Champions League era, this is the 29th final for an Egyptian club, with 18 wins and 10 losses.
- 4. Pyramids have played only 1 of their last 9 matches at home but are unbeaten in their last 23 home games this season (W19 D4) and last 28 overall (W24 D4).
- 5. Pyramids scored in 22 of 23 home games this season; the only blank was a 0-0 draw vs Al Masry.
- 6.This season, they’ve won all 7 home matches, scoring 26 and conceding 6, with one clean sheet. In total, they’ve lost just 1 of 11 home matches in the competition.
- 7. Fiston Mayele leads with 8 goals in 12 matches (5 since group stage); Ibrahim Adel has 6 (also 5 post-group stage).
- 8. Ramadan Sobhi has 5 assists in 9 games (joint-most), plus 2 goals. He’s had major impact off the bench twice.
- 9. Askary Chibi has created 20 chances since the group stage — the most for Pyramids.
- 10. Pyramids have kept 3 clean sheets this season, all away, but remain dominant at home
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- 1. Sundowns are in their third CAF Champions League final (2001, 2016, 2024).
- 2. South African Record: First South African club to reach three finals, surpassing Orlando Pirates (2).
- 3. Sundowns hosted the first leg in all three finals. In 2001, they drew 1-1 at home and lost 2-0 away to Al Ahly.
- 4. Sundowns beat Zamalek 3-0 at home, lost 1-0 away, and won 3-1 on aggregate.
- 5. Sundowns have never scored in an away leg of a Champions League final, conceding five in total.
- 6. The current final marks the second time Sundowns led at home and failed to win (also in 2001).
- 7. A defeat would make Sundowns the first South African side to lose two finals.
- 8. Sundowns are unbeaten in their last 10 matches vs Egyptian opposition (4wins and 6 draws).
- 9. Sundowns are unbeaten in their last 4 visits to Egypt (2 wins and 2 draws).
- 10. A win would make Sundowns the first team since Al Ahly (2012) to win the title after failing to win the home leg.
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