CAF Champions League

AGAIN, ZAMALEK OVERCOME ESPERANCE

Published

5 years ago

February 29, 2020

A couple of weeks after defeating them 3-1 to claim the 2020 CAF Super Cup title, Egyptian giants Zamalek confirmed their supremacy over Tunisian counterparts and defending champions Esperance, beating them with an identical score at the Cairo International Stadium on Friday evening in the 2019-20 CAF Champions League quarterfinals first leg.

Abdelraouf Benguit gave the visitors the lead after 27 minutes, only for Mohamed Ounnajem to equalize four minutes later.

Achraf Bencharki put Zamalek ahead after 72 minutes, and deep into injury time, Mahmoud Alaa made it 3-1 for Zamalek, scoring from the spot to give the five times champions Zamalek a vital home win.

Esperance finished the game with ten men after Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane received his marching orders for protesting right after Zamalek’s winner.

The return leg takes place in Radis next Friday with the aggregate winner reaching the semifinals.

Against what was expected, Esperance started the game on high note and could have taken the lead immediately from the kickoff. Hamdou Elhouni received the ball inside the hosts’ area and sent a shot that was stopped by Zamalek’s goalkeeper Mohamed Abo Gabal.

The visitors continued having the upper hand, and could have taken the lead after six minutes. Once again it was Elhouni who made use of Ferjani Sassi’s wrong back pass, but his effort that missed the target narrowly.

And it was Esperance who broke the deadlock after 27 minutes. Elhouni received the ball just outside Zamalek’s penalty area, and found Benguit who sent a first time shot that wronged Abo Gabal to give the holders a deserved lead.

But Zamalek immediately responded and restored parity four minutes later. Ounnajem controlled the ball and sent a scorcher from long range that Esperance keeper Ben Chrifia could do nothing about.

The hosts could have taken the lead eight minutes before the break when defender Mahmoud Alaa’s header kissed the crossbar with Ben Chrifia relieved.

Esperance had the half’s final chance when Mohamed Ben Romdhane sent a shot that was deflected to a corner, as both sides went to the break with 1-1 draw.

The visitors had the second half’s first chance when substitute Khalil Chemam sent a long-range effort that was saved by stretching Abo Gabal.

Achraf Bencharki waived his way through his markers and tried to find the back of the net, but for Chamseddine Dhouadi who stopped the ball after 63 minutes. Ben Chrifia was up to Mostafa Mohamed’s low shot after 68 minutes to keep it tied.

And the hosts finally took the lead after 72 minutes. Mohamed Abdel Shafy’s cross was controlled by Bencharki who sent a shot from close range to give Zamalek the lead.

Esperance had to deal another blow when Ben Romdhane was sent off immediately after the goal for protesting.

Bencharki could have doubled their tally four minutes later but could not connect to Ahmed Sayed “Zizo”s cross from close range.

Zamalek skipper Mahmoud Abdel Razek “Shikabala” sent a shot seconds after entering the field but saw his effort wide after 82 minutes.

And deep into injury time Bencharki had a penalty given for a foul inside the area.

From the spot, Alaa sent Ben Chrifia to the wrong direction to give his side a commanding lead before the return leg next weekend.

-CAF

CAF Champions League

Heartbreak for Al Ahly as Sundowns edge to CAF Champions League final on away goals rule

Published

10 hours ago

April 26, 2025

Kunle Solaja

Mamelodi Sundowns clinched a dramatic spot in the final of the CAF Champions League after holding Al Ahly to a 1-1 draw in Cairo on Friday night, progressing on the away goals rule.

After a tense 0-0 stalemate in the first leg in Pretoria, it was Al Ahly who drew first blood in the return leg at the Cairo International Stadium.

Taher Mohamed fired the hosts into the lead midway through the first half, smashing home from outside the box after being teed up by the lively Emam Ashour.

Backed by a passionate home crowd, Al Ahly dominated much of the first period and looked on course to finally break their winless streak against the South Africans.

But Mamelodi Sundowns showed their resilience and turned the tie on its head in the closing stages.

With ten minutes remaining, a low cross caused panic in the Ahly defence, resulting in Yasser Ibrahim inadvertently turning the ball into his own net under pressure from Peter Shalulile.

It was a heartbreaking moment for the Egyptian giants and a lifeline for Sundowns, who knew a 1-1 draw would be enough to see them through.

Al Ahly threw everything forward in search of a late winner, with substitutes Achraf Bencharki and Wessam Abou Ali both going close in a frantic finale.

But Sundowns, marshalled superbly by their backline and aided by a bit of fortune, held firm to seal a famous qualification.

It marks a significant milestone for Pretoria-based side, who have now gone nine consecutive matches unbeaten against the record African champions.

Sundowns’ reward is a place in the final, where they will face either Pyramids FC or Orlando Pirates — with the second semi-final set to be decided later.

For Al Ahly, it was a night of bitter disappointment despite their brave efforts, as their dream of a record-extending CAF Champions League title came to a crashing halt at home.

-CAF

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CAF Champions League

Late Mayele heroics send Pyramids into historic first final after five-goal thriller

Published

10 hours ago

April 26, 2025

Kunle Solaja

Pyramids’ Fiston Mayele celebrates his goal

The Egyptian side Pyramids sealed a dramatic 3-2 victory over Orlando Pirates in Cairo on Friday night to book their place in the final of the CAF Champions League for the first time in their history.

After a goalless first leg in Johannesburg, both sides came out determined at the 30 June Air Defence Stadium, and it was Pirates who struck first when Relebohile Mofokeng slotted home from close range midway through the first half.

The lead, however, was short-lived. Pyramids levelled just before half-time, with Fiston Mayele pouncing on a cross from Mostafa Fathi to restore parity.

The end-to-end nature of the contest continued after the break, and Pirates regained the advantage when Mohau Nkota fired in a superb low drive on 52 minutes.

Yet the Egyptian side showed their resolve in front of their home fans. Ramadan Sobhi rose highest to meet a Mohamed Chibi cross, heading past Sipho Chaine to make it 2-2 just moments later.

The decisive moment came with just six minutes remaining.

After a goalmouth scramble from a corner, Mayele reacted quickest, hammering the ball into the roof of the net to spark wild celebrations among the home faithful.

Despite late pressure from the South African visitors, including efforts from Tshegofatso Mabasa and Relebohile Mofokeng, Pyramids held on to secure a famous win and extend their remarkable unbeaten home record to 23 matches.

The result means Pyramids will face Mamelodi Sundowns, who earlier eliminated Al Ahly on away goals, in what promises to be a mouth-watering final.

For Orlando Pirates, it was a brave effort but one that ultimately fell short, ending their hopes of a second CAF Champions League title.

-CAF

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CAF Champions League

Al Ahly, Sundowns brace for Cairo showdown with final spot on the line

Published

1 day ago

April 25, 2025

Kunle Solaja

Sundowns’ Lucas Ribeiro Costa is challenged by Al Ahly’s Ahmed Reda Hashem in the first leg encounter.

Al Ahly and Mamelodi Sundowns are set for a blockbuster clash on Friday night at Cairo International Stadium as they battle for a place in the final of the CAF Champions League.

With the first leg in Pretoria ending goalless, everything is still to play for in this highly anticipated second-leg encounter.

Despite Al Ahly’s rich history and dominance in African club football, Sundowns have held the upper hand in recent meetings.

The South African giants are unbeaten in their last eight matches against the Cairo club, scoring 11 goals and conceding just five in that run.

Al Ahly have not defeated Sundowns since May 2021 and will be looking to overturn that trend on home soil.

The hosts have been rock solid at the back in this season’s Champions League, keeping three consecutive clean sheets.

Their defensive resilience will be key once again, especially against a Sundowns side that has failed to score in its last 216 minutes of continental action.

Peter Shalulile, with three goals to his name in the tournament, remains the Brazilians’ biggest threat up front.

Midfielder Emam Ashour has been pivotal to Al Ahly’s campaign, scoring five times — joint-highest in the competition — and will be expected to spark the attack once more.

Home advantage could prove crucial for the Egyptians.

They are unbeaten in their last six home games across all competitions and boast three wins from four home matches in this CAF Champions League campaign.

Sundowns, meanwhile, have struggled on the road, managing just one win in four away matches this season.

With a place in the final at stake, both sides will be pushing to make their mark in what promises to be a high-stakes, high-intensity clash under the Cairo lights.

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