Egypt’s Zamalek edged Cairo rivals Al Ahly 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw at the end of 90 minutes to win the African Super Cup in Riyadh on Friday.

Zamalek were successful with all four of their kicks in the shootout while their goalkeeper Mohamed Awad saved from Morocco defender Yahia Attiyat Allah before Wessam Abou Ali missed Al Ahly’s last kick at a sellout Kingdom Arena in the Saudi capital.Al Ahly had gone ahead on the stroke of halftime when Palestine international Abou Ali netted a spotkick, awarded after a VAR review.

The penalty came after a studs up challenge from Hamza Mathlouthi on Akram Tawfik inside the Zamalek penalty area but despite VAR confirmation, the Zamalek players furiously surrounded the referee in protest and staged a brief walk off the pitch before play resumed.

Zamalek equalised 13 minutes from time through substitute Nasser Mansi as he got ahead of the Ahly defence to tuck away Omar Gaber’s cross with his first touch after coming on.

The match between last season’s African Champions League winners and the victors in the African Confederation Cup was played in Saudi Arabia for a second year as the Confederation of African Football court Saudi sponsorship for their competitions.

Zamalek have now won the Super Cup five times, but trail Al Ahly’s record of eight.

-Reuters

The stage is set for an epic clash as Al Ahly and Zamalek, Egypt’s two biggest football clubs, go head-to-head in the CAF Super Cup 2024 final tonight in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. 

With kick-off at the Arena Stadium at 1800 GMT, the match promises to be a thrilling showdown between these long-time rivals, who are both vying to start their seasons with a major trophy.

Al Ahly, the reigning  CAF Champions League winners, have firmly established themselves as the dominant force in African club football.

Under the guidance of coach Marcel Koller, the “Red Devils” secured their fourth consecutive CAF Champions League title earlier this year, adding to their already impressive haul of 44 Egyptian league championships.

Despite a relatively quiet transfer window, Ahly strengthened their squad with the signings of Moroccan World Cup semifinalist Yahia Attiyat Allah and center-back Achraf Dari from Brest. Koller, however, remains focused on the immediate task at hand.

“Winning the title will mean a lot to us and give us a big push for the upcoming season,” Koller said in his pre-match press conference.

“There’s no difference between local and international games. We’re excited to face Zamalek and will give our best to secure the trophy.”

Zamalek, known as the “White Knights,” have faced a tougher path recently. Despite a third-place finish in the Egyptian Premier League last season, trailing second place by a significant 17 points, they managed to capture the CAF Confederation Cup, demonstrating their resilience and determination.

The summer saw them rejuvenate their squad with seven new signings, including promising young Palestinian striker Omar Faraj from AIK in Sweden. Coach Gomes is confident that his team’s current form and spirit will carry them through.

“The match will be tough for both teams,” Gomes acknowledged.

“Even the players on the bench will play a decisive role. Winning this title will boost the players’ confidence and set the stage for future success.”

In their previous African encounters, Al Ahly have largely had the upper hand, winning six out of ten matches, with Zamalek securing just one victory.

Notably, Zamalek’s lone win came in the 1994 Super Cup, while Ahly clinched a memorable 2-1 victory in the 2020 CAF Champions League final. The “Red Devils” have scored 17 goals to Zamalek’s 10 in these fixtures, underscoring their attacking prowess.

With the stakes high and a sold-out Arena Stadium brimming with Egyptian and Arab fans, tonight’s match promises to be an electrifying affair.

Both teams will be eager to claim bragging rights and add another prestigious trophy to their collections. Al Ahly will be looking to extend their dominance with a ninth Super Cup title, while Zamalek hope to clinch their fifth.

-CAF

The Confédération Africaine de Football CAF has unveiled a new identity of the  Super Cup – marking yet another exciting chapter in the ever-evolving story of African football.

The  CAF Super Cup is one of CAF’s flagship club competitions and is contested by champions of the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup.

The CAF Super Cup 2024 will take place on Friday, 27 September in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The new identify of the  CAF Super Cup draws its inspiration from the actual trophy, as was the case with the new identity that was unveiled by CAF ahead of the  CAF Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year.

With the global increase in growth and interest in African football, the launch of the new identify of the CAF Super Cup reaffirms CAF’s unwavering commitment and dedication to constantly improving the brand image of all its competitions.

CAF General Secretary, Mr Veron Mosengo-Omba said the unveiling of the CAF Super Cup’s new identity adds onto the evolution of African football that has been noticeable and commended across the globe in recent years.

This year’s edition will be contested by rival Egyptian football powerhouses – Al Ahly SC, winners of the CAF Champions League as well as Zamalek SC who are champions of the CAF Confederation Cup.

The launch of the new identity adds onto the exciting build up to the clash, which coincides with  the Riyadh Season 2024 and aligns with Riyadh Season’s success in attracting numerous major sporting events that have attracted significant international attention in recent years.