Following their TotalEnergies CAF Champions League final 1-0 victory over Tunisia’s Esperance Sportive de Tunis at a sold-out Cairo International Stadium on Saturday evening, Egyptian giants Al Ahly have once again reigned supreme as African club football monarchs.
This was Egypt’s 12th TotalEnergies CAF Champions League trophy, and Saturday’s victory marked the fourth time they had won the continent’s most important title in a row, cementing their status as African football club rulers.
The victory on Saturday represents the champions’ 20th consecutive TotalEnergies CAF Champions League triumph.
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They also complete the season with the best defensive record, having conceded only one goal.
Following a goalless draw in Rades last week, the Egyptians, backed by a boisterous Cairo International Stadium, went into the match with a little lead over the four-time African champions, who have been chasing an elusive fifth title since 2019.
Ahly’s only goal of the game occurred in the fourth minute, when Roger Aholou made an unfortunate own goal when Ramy Moustafa’s header bounced off the inside of the defender’s thigh and beat youthful custodian Amenallah Memmiche.
Played at an exciting tempo under the Cairo stars, both teams had an equal chance at each other throughout the game, with attack after attack foiled by equally superb defending.
Esperance had a clear chance in the 52nd minute when TKA’s low drive nearly caught Mostafa Shobeir off guard, but the effort went inches wide.
The Tunisians, with momentum on their side, nearly levelled the game shortly after the hour mark when the Brazilian combo of Yan Sasse and Rodrigo Silva finished with Sasse hitting a stunning curler that went just wide of the target.
Ahly nearly increased their lead when Emam Ashour dribbled past two defenders before unleashing a powerful strike that was saved by the goalkeeper.
Coming on to add his experience, the ever-green Afsha nearly made it two in the 87th minute with a well-taken free kick that came off the bar in what could have been a miraculous strike for the marksman.
It ultimately finished 1-0 in favour of the club of the century, who were crowned African champions once more in front of their home fans in Cairo.