After winning their semi-finals on Friday, defending champions Al Ahly of Egypt will face longtime rivals Esperance of Tunisia in this year’s African Champions League final.

Al Ahly defeated TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Cairo, and Esperance shocked South African champions Mamelodi Sundowns in Pretoria, winning 1-0.

Al Ahly has won five of the last seven editions and a record 11 overall.

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Al Ahly easily won the two legs with a 3-0 victory after the first leg ended in a goalless draw in Lubumbashi, while Esperance’s 20-year-old defender Raed Bouchniba scored a brilliant goal in the 57th minute to give the Tunisians a 1-0 victory away from home and a 2-0 victory overall.

A lightning strike in South Africa’s capital caused some of the floodlights to go out during a strong thunderstorm, causing the match to be delayed by 70 minutes.

For the eighth consecutive year, Sundowns missed the Champions League final despite being one of the favourites and winning the new African Football League this season.

As the South African forwards misread their lines, Esperance’s 20-year-old custodian Amanallah Memmich made excellent saves.

The victory also guaranteed Esperance a spot in the U.S. Club World Cup the next year.

It took Al Ahly until the 68th minute through goal from defender Mohamed Abdel-Moneim to conclude the scoreless draw with Mazembe.

In the 83rd minute, Wessam Abou Ali scored another goal by extending his leg to apply a deft finish.

Akram Tawfiq then added a third goal in stoppage time to further solidify their lead.

The match’s first leg will take place in Esperance on May 18 and return to Cairo seven days later.

Esperance finished fourth in the Champions League in 2019 and earned their final Champions League title.