Ahly Clinch Record-Extending 12th Champions League Title
Egyptian giants Al Ahly cemented their dominance in African club football by claiming a record-extending 12th CAF Champions League title.
They edged past ES Esperance 1-0 in a tense final at Cairo International Stadium on Saturday night.
A tightly contested first leg in Tunisia ended goalless, but Al Ahly held the home advantage for the return fixture. Their experience and resilience in Cairo proved decisive.
Al Ahly continued their recent run of success in the Champions League. This victory marks their fourth final appearance in a row, with triumphs in 2021 against Kaizer Chiefs and 2023, a heartbreaking loss to Wydad Casablanca in 2022, and sweet revenge against the Moroccan giants last year.
A dream start for the home side saw them score in just the fourth minute. Ramy Rabia’s header took a fortunate deflection off Esperance’s Roger Boris, finding its way into the net.
South African international Percy Tau nearly doubled the lead with a fierce shot in the 30th minute, but it rattled the side netting. Al Ahly maintained their lead heading into halftime.
The second half saw Esperance push for an equalizer, but a resolute Al Ahly defense held firm. Mohamed “Ashfa” Madgy came close to extending the lead with a free-kick that struck the crossbar in the closing stages.
Al Ahly’s triumph marks not only their 12th Champions League title but also Percy Tau’s third. He previously lifted the trophy with Mamelodi Sundowns in 2016 under coach Pitso Mosimane and again in 2022 with the South African coach. For manager Marcel Koller, this is his second successive Champions League title after taking over from Mosimane two years ago.
These two reaching the final already secured a spot along with Sundowns in the expanded FIFA Club World Cup, set to take place next year in the United States.
Picture courtesy of CAF