CAF Champions League
CAF CHAMPIONS’ LEAGUE: AHLY COACH CARTERON ASKS FOR PROTECTION IN TUNISIA
Patrice Carteron, the French coach of the ninth African title-seeking Al Ahly of Egypt has called for special protection for his club as they head to Tunis for the return leg of the CAF Champions’ League.nn nnRecurring champions, Ahly, head for the return leg with a two-goal advantage following Saturday night’s 3-1 defeat of Esperance in Alexandria.nn nnAccording to Egyptian publication, Ahramonline, Carteron said his team will fight in the return match against Esperance in Tunisia to clinch the African Champions League title.nn”We delivered a good match and managed to get this comfortable win,” Carteron said in the press conference after the match.nnThe Reds are now favourites to win a ninth crown following the comfortable first-leg advantage. The second leg takes place in Rades next Friday.nn”We will fight in the second leg in Tunisia to return with the title. We will be facing a respectable team and we will have the proper preparation,” the Ahly coach explained.nn”We had many chances in the first leg, but we should be stronger in the return match. Our players are experienced enough to deal with the awaited atmosphere in Tunisia,” he added.nnCarteron also said some sad incidents spoiled the joy of the victory after the match. He was hit by the foot of one of Esperance players, while the Tunisian fans insulted Ahly players.nn”We will ask for special protection for our team in Tunisia. I hope the Tunisian government will take effort to make the confrontation a football match, not a war in the stands,” the coach said.nn”We will have much concentration in the coming days. I told the players that the final is from two legs. I have confidence in my players and also in their determination to return with the title,” the Ahly coach concluded.nn nn
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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