Connect with us

CAF Champions League

AFRICA’S MOST DOMINANT CLUB, AL AHLY GOES FOR NINTH TITLE

Published

on

When Al Ahly of Egypts play the first leg of the final match of CAF Champions League on Friday, it will be the club’s 12th appearance in the zenith match of the continent’s premier inter-clubs tournament.

 

In contrast, four Nigerian clubs – Enugu Rangers, Shooting Stars, Heartland and Enyimba put together – have played in the final match six times.

 

That illustrates the strength and depth of the North African giants as they take on

Advertisement

Esperance of Tunisia.

 

it will be the second time they meet at the ultimate stage of the CAF Champions League. Both sides met in the final of 2012 edition, with Ahly winning 3-2 on aggregate to claim their seventh title.

 

Between them Ahly and Esperance count 10 Champions League titles, with Ahly the record champions having eight titles, with two for the Tunisians. The 2018 final will be Ahly’s 12th appearance in the final (a record), losing on three occasions.

Advertisement

 

On the other hand, Esperance reached the ultimate stage six times before, winning twice and losing four times.

 

Below are details of both clubs previous appearances in the CAF Champions League finals;

 

Advertisement

Ahly CAF Champions League finals

 

1982   Ahly – Kotoko (Ghana)         3-0

Kotoko (Ghana) – Ahly         1-1

 

Advertisement

1983   Ahly – Kotoko (Ghana)         0-0

Kotoko (Ghana) – Ahly         1-0

 

1987   Al Hilal (Sudan) – Ahly         0-0

Ahly – Al Hilal (Sudan)         2-0

Advertisement

 

2001   Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa) – Ahly            1-1

Ahly – Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)            3-0

 

2005   Etoile du Sahel (Tunisia) – Ahly       0-0

Advertisement

Ahly – Etoile du Sahel (Tunisia)       3-0

 

2006   Ahly – CS Sfaxien (Tunisia)             1-1

CS Sfaxien (Tunisia) – Ahly             0-1

 

Advertisement

2007   Etoile du Sahel (Tunisia) – Ahly       0-0

Ahly – Etoile du Sahel (Tunisia)       1-3

 

2008   Ahly – Coton Sport (Cameroon)      2-0

Coton Sport (Cameroon) – Ahly      2-2

Advertisement

 

2012   Ahly – Esperance (Tunisia)             1-1

Esperacne (Tunisia) – Ahly             1-2

 

2013   Orlando Pirates (South Africa) – Ahly         1-1

Advertisement

Ahly – Orlando Pirates (South Africa)         2-0

 

2017   Ahly – Wydad Casablanca (Morocco)          1-1

Wydad Casablanca (Morocco) – Ahly          1-0

 

Advertisement

Esperance CAF Champions League finals

 

1994   Zamalek (Egypt) – Esperance                   0-0

Esperance – Zamalek (Egypt)                   3-1

 

Advertisement

1999   Raja Casablanca (Morocco) – Esperance     0-0

Esperance – Raja Casablanca (Morocco)     0-0 (Raja won 4-3 on penalties)

 

2000   Esperance – Hearts of Oak (Ghana)           1-2

Hearts of Oak (Ghana) – Esperance           3-1

Advertisement

 

2010   TP Mazembe (DR Congo) – Esperance        5-0

Esperance – TP Mazembe (DR Congo)        1-1

 

2011   Wydad Casablanca (Morocco) – Esperance          0-0

Advertisement

Esperance – Wydad Casablanca (Morocco)             1-0

 

2012   Ahly (Egypt) – Esperance     1-1

Esperance – Ahly (Egypt)     1-2

 

Advertisement

Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

Continue Reading
Advertisement