Egyptian giants Al-Ahly made a giant step towards the CAF Champions League quarter-finals for an eighth consecutive season after a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Ghanaian side Medeama in the fifth round of group stage on Friday.

A second-half goal from winger Hussein El-Shahat was enough to seal the three points for the Cairo club at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi, moving them onto nine points at the top of Group A with one game remaining.

The match witnessed several standout moments, with Mostafa Shobeir showcasing his goalkeeping prowess early on, denying Medeama’s attempts to find the back of the net. However, it was El-Shahat who stole the spotlight in the 48th minute, calmly slotting home a well-executed finish to secure victory for Al-Ahly.

With this crucial victory, the Cairo giants stay at the top of group and keep them on the verge of securing their passage to the next round with a comfortable four-point lead over Belouizdad and Young Africans (Yanga SC), who are set to face off later this weekend.

On the other hand, Medeama languish at the bottom of the table with four points.Al-Ahly’s focus turns to their upcoming clash against Yanga, where they aim to cement their position at the top of the group. A draw would suffice for the Egyptian side to ensure they clinch the top spot in the standings.