CAF Champions League
CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: ESPERANCE FIGHT BACK IN FINAL
BY APESIN ADEMOLA.
Espérance have a mountain to climb as the CAF Champions League gets to crescendo. The Tunisians will have to fight back to cancel a 1-3 deficit acquired in the encounter with Al Ahly a week ago in a tempestuous first leg of the continental showpiece in Alexandria.
The Alexandria encounter was marred by questionable decisions by the centre referee Walid Azarou, who awarded two unfair penalties to the home team. Both decisions were Video Assistant Referee (VAR) aided.
The second leg has been overshadowed by the controversies of the first encounter, including Azarou’s shirt-tearing celebration, which attracted CAF ban for the Al-Ahly attacker, and also asked manager Patrice Carteron to answer disciplinary query over his own conduct.
All said, Espérance believe they can add to their two previous triumphs in this competition by cancelling the deficit and going on to stop the Egyptian side from a record extending ninth title in Africa’s most glamorous club tournaments.
Coach Moine Chaabani is upset about the Alexandria show, which he described as “extreme injustice.” But he has asked his charges to respond with a commanding performance in the field of play.
The Tunis-based team will miss the services of two key players – Chamseddine Dhaouadi in defence and midfielder Franck Kom – who Chaabani is convinced were unfairly booked.
Espérance won the competition in 1994 and 2011 and had been in the final four other times.
Ahly have the advantage. They surely understand this tournament so well. As recent as the last edition, the Red Devils were in the final losing 1-2 aggregate to Morocco’s Wydad Casablanca. And they will not want a repeat experience so soon.
Not only will the winning team claim the trophy and the US$2.5 million cash prize, they will also go on to represent the continent in the FIFA Club World Cup next month in the United Arab Emirates.
Fixture…
CAF Champions League (Final second leg):
- Espérance (Tunisia) v Al-Ahly (Egypt) (first leg Al-Ahly 3-1) (8pm)
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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