By Victor Kanayo
Serial CAF Champions League winners, Al Ahly of Egypt, have again qualified another final of the continental club competition.
The final place which is their their fourth consecutive qualification in the Champions League final, was made possible after they edged out Tunisia’s Esperance 1-0 in Cairo on Friday night, to qualify 4-0 on aggregate.
How Ahly Towered To Another Final
Hussein Elshahat scored the solitary goal for the Egyptian Red Devils in the first half to secure the home victory and progress to their sixth final in seven seasons.
After a conservative start, Ahly broke the deadlock after 21 minutes, and it was the South African wizard Percy Tao who was the chief orchestrator again.
After his brace in the first leg, Tau turned provider this time round, sending Elshahat through on goal with a brilliant defense splitting pass, the latter clipping the ball over the advancing keeper.
Esperance had a chance to respond three minutes on the turn, needing five goals now to turn the tide in their favour. However, Mohamed Ali Ben Hamouda saw his effort on the half volley deflected for a corner.
In the second half, Ahly continued with their conservative approach, choosing to keep possession and frustrating Esperance who were in desperate need of a goal.
The Tunisians almost got the leveler in the 71st minute off a counter attack. Ben Hamouda was away on his wheels on the right, capitalizing on the space left by right back Mohamed Hany who had been upfield in attack.
He sliced in a low cross into the area, but Moataz Zaddem blazed his effort over.
In the final minutes of the game, Ahly had some chances to burry off the game. Substitute Ahmed Abdelkader came to the end of a beautiful passage of play by the hosts but couldn’t keep his final shot at goal low.
Mahmoud Kahraba also had a late chance, but his shot was well saved by the keeper.
This impressive accomplishment marks the second time the Red Devils have achieved such a feat, previously accomplishing a similar run from 2005 to 2008. Only TP Englebert of Congo, now known as TP Mazembe, has matched this achievement between 1967 and 1970.
With a place in their 16th final, Ahly remains on track to pursue a record-extending 11th Champions League title.
Waiting For Final Opponent
The Red Devils will now await the winner between holders Wydad Athletic Club and South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns who play on Saturday in Pretoria.
They faced Wydad last season, and lost 2-0 to relinquish their title.
