CAF Champions League
AL AHLY BANKS ON NIGERIA’S JUNIOR AJAYI FOR ANOTHER SPECIAL DELIVERY
Having aided the Egyptian fanatically supported Al Ahly to the Egyptian Super Cup victory last week, all eyes are again on Nigeria’s Junior Ajayi to again live up to the occasion as the club prepares for a double in second leg of the CAF Champions League tie with Equatorial Guinea’s Cano Sport.
Al Ahly won the first leg, 2-0 away from home and host the second leg this weekend.
Against Cano Sport, Swiss Coach, Rene Weiler who won his debut with the first leg match, could rest some of his key players, having returned to Cairo with an away commanding win.
With strikers Marawan Mohsen and Moroccan Walid Azaro injured, there might be a chance for first leg scorer Salah Mohsen, or the attacking role might once again lie on the shoulders of Nigerian import Junior Ajayi.
With speculations rife in Egypt of his possible exit, efforts are being made to entrench him in the club. He was a surprise starter in the Super Cup match with rivals, Zamalek last Friday.
But Ajayi scored in each half to lead Al Ahly to victory, raising his individual tally in the Cairo Derby to four goals, one behind the derby’s all-time foreign top scorer Angolan Flavio Amado.
“It’s not important who plays or scores as long as the team is winning”, Ajayi was quoted by Cafonline as saying. “When I had the chance to play (against Zamalek) I gave my best and you saw what happened.
“I never said I’m leaving Ahly. I am happy here and I have a contract that lasts for three more years” concluded the 23-year old Nigerian, who won the bronze medal with the Olympic Eagles in Rio 2016.
Egypt’s Pyramids claimed a deserved 2-1 victory over Mamelodi Sundowns from South Africa. This led to a 3-2 aggregate success. They celebrated their first African Champions League title. This triumph occurred following the second leg of this year’s final at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo on Sunday.
The first leg in Pretoria finished 1-1. Fiston Mayele gave Pyramids the lead on 23 minutes. He profited from a Sundowns defensive error. Ahmed Samy doubled the advantage on 56 minutes. He scored with a header from a free-kick.
Sundowns pulled a goal back through Iqraam Rayners with 15 minutes remaining. One more goal would have given them victory in the tie on the away goals rule. However, Pyramids held firm despite heavy pressure from the visitors.
Pyramids are the fourth Egyptian side to lift the Champions League trophy after record 12-time winners Al Ahly, Zamalek, and Ismaily. Meanwhile, 2016 champions Sundowns head to this month’s Club World Cup in the United States on a low note.
-Reuters
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- 1. Pyramids aim to become the first new CAF Champions League winner since Sundowns (2016), the 13th in the modern era, and the 27th overall.
- 2. This is the 19th Champions League-era final featuring an Egyptian club. Previous teams (Al Ahly 10, Zamalek 1) have won 11 titles.
- 3. Including the pre-Champions League era, this is the 29th final for an Egyptian club, with 18 wins and 10 losses.
- 4. Pyramids have played only 1 of their last 9 matches at home but are unbeaten in their last 23 home games this season (W19 D4) and last 28 overall (W24 D4).
- 5. Pyramids scored in 22 of 23 home games this season; the only blank was a 0-0 draw vs Al Masry.
- 6.This season, they’ve won all 7 home matches, scoring 26 and conceding 6, with one clean sheet. In total, they’ve lost just 1 of 11 home matches in the competition.
- 7. Fiston Mayele leads with 8 goals in 12 matches (5 since group stage); Ibrahim Adel has 6 (also 5 post-group stage).
- 8. Ramadan Sobhi has 5 assists in 9 games (joint-most), plus 2 goals. He’s had major impact off the bench twice.
- 9. Askary Chibi has created 20 chances since the group stage — the most for Pyramids.
- 10. Pyramids have kept 3 clean sheets this season, all away, but remain dominant at home
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- 1. Sundowns are in their third CAF Champions League final (2001, 2016, 2024).
- 2. South African Record: First South African club to reach three finals, surpassing Orlando Pirates (2).
- 3. Sundowns hosted the first leg in all three finals. In 2001, they drew 1-1 at home and lost 2-0 away to Al Ahly.
- 4. Sundowns beat Zamalek 3-0 at home, lost 1-0 away, and won 3-1 on aggregate.
- 5. Sundowns have never scored in an away leg of a Champions League final, conceding five in total.
- 6. The current final marks the second time Sundowns led at home and failed to win (also in 2001).
- 7. A defeat would make Sundowns the first South African side to lose two finals.
- 8. Sundowns are unbeaten in their last 10 matches vs Egyptian opposition (4wins and 6 draws).
- 9. Sundowns are unbeaten in their last 4 visits to Egypt (2 wins and 2 draws).
- 10. A win would make Sundowns the first team since Al Ahly (2012) to win the title after failing to win the home leg.
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