CAF Champions League
ZAMALEK DETHRONES ESPERANCE TO REACH CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SEMI FINALS
Egyptian giants Zamalek reached the CAF Champions League semifinals for the first time since 2016 despite losing to holders Esperance of Tunisia 1-0 at Rades Olympic Stadium on Friday evening.
Zamalek qualified with an aggregate 3-2 victory having won the first leg 3-1 in Cairo last weekend. They will wait to see their opponent from Morocco’s Raja and DR Congo’s TP Mazembe who lock horns in Lubumbashi on Saturday afternoon. Raja won the first leg 2-0 in Casablanca.
Billel Ben Saha scored what proved to be the game’s lone goal from the spot after five minutes, but Esperance couldn’t find their much needed second goal to surrender the title they won in the past two seasons.
Right from the kickoff Esperance looked keen to find the opener which will ease their nerves. And they had what they looked for after just five minutes.
Fedi Ben Choug found his way past two defenders and passed to Ibrahim Ouattara, whose ball was handed by Zamalek’s defender Mahmoud Alaa inside the vital area. From the spot, Billel Ben Saha sent goalkeeper Mohamed Abo Gabal to the wrong direction to give his side an early lead.
Esperance controlled possession and tried to press Zamalek who opted to defend in numbers and rely on counter attacks. There were almost no more chances till the break. Both sides went to halftime with the hosts leading 1-0.
Less than a minute after restart Hamdou Elhouni found his way past Zamalek defense and sent a cross that was stopped by Alaa in time.
Elhouni remained the hosts’ danger man, and two minutes later his shot went just wide with goalkeeper Abo Gabal relieved.
Zamalek’s nearest chance came after 63 minutes when Achraf Bencharki’s shot was stopped by Esperance’s goalkeeper Moez Ben Chrifia.
Elhouni almost found the much needed goal for the hosts after 70 minutes, when his bullet was brilliantly stopped over the goal line by Abo Gabal.
Substitute Mohamed Ben Hamouda controlled the ball inside Zamalek’s area but his shot went wide with 12 minutes remaining.
Time passed with Zamalek happy to see their opponents at bay as Zamalek found their way to the final four.
CAF
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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