CAF Champions League
AFRICA’S MOST DOMINANT CLUB, AL AHLY GOES FOR NINTH TITLE
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
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.
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;
Ahly CAF Champions League finals
1982 Ahly – Kotoko (Ghana) 3-0
Kotoko (Ghana) – Ahly 1-1
1983 Ahly – Kotoko (Ghana) 0-0
Kotoko (Ghana) – Ahly 1-0
1987 Al Hilal (Sudan) – Ahly 0-0
Ahly – Al Hilal (Sudan) 2-0
2001 Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa) – Ahly 1-1
Ahly – Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa) 3-0
2005 Etoile du Sahel (Tunisia) – Ahly 0-0
Ahly – Etoile du Sahel (Tunisia) 3-0
2006 Ahly – CS Sfaxien (Tunisia) 1-1
CS Sfaxien (Tunisia) – Ahly 0-1
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
2012 Ahly – Esperance (Tunisia) 1-1
Esperacne (Tunisia) – Ahly 1-2
2013 Orlando Pirates (South Africa) – Ahly 1-1
Ahly – Orlando Pirates (South Africa) 2-0
2017 Ahly – Wydad Casablanca (Morocco) 1-1
Wydad Casablanca (Morocco) – Ahly 1-0
Esperance CAF Champions League finals
1994 Zamalek (Egypt) – Esperance 0-0
Esperance – Zamalek (Egypt) 3-1
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
2010 TP Mazembe (DR Congo) – Esperance 5-0
Esperance – TP Mazembe (DR Congo) 1-1
2011 Wydad Casablanca (Morocco) – Esperance 0-0
Esperance – Wydad Casablanca (Morocco) 1-0
2012 Ahly (Egypt) – Esperance 1-1
Esperance – Ahly (Egypt) 1-2