HOLDERS Al Ahly of Egypt will battle fierce rivals Esperance of Tunisia in the CAF Champions League final in May after both earned victories over TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns respectively last night.
Ahly, the most successful club in the competition who have won five of the last seven editions and 11 in total, defeated TP Mazembe 3-0 in Cairo in the second leg of their semi-final tie, while Esperance secured a surprise 1-0 win over Mamelodi Sundowns in Pretoria.
Al Ahly advanced 3-0 on aggregate after a goalless draw in the first leg in Lubumbashi and Esperance’s 20-year-old defender Raed Bouchniba struck in the 57th minute to earn the Tunisians a 1-0 away win and 2-0 aggregate victory over 2016 champions Sundowns.
The match in Pretoria was delayed by 70 minutes after a lightning strike in South Africa’s administrative capital knocked out some of the floodlights following a heavy thunderstorm.
Sundowns won the new African Football League this season and were one of the favourites for the Champions League but could not reach the final for an eighth season in a row.
Esperance’s 20-year-old goalkeeper Amanallah Memmich preserved their advantage with some fine saves and the win also ensured a place for the Tunisians in next year’s FIFA Club World Cup in the United States of America.
Al Ahly waited for 68 minutes to get the breakthrough against Mazembe when defender Mohamed Abdel-Moneim scored.
Wessam Abou Ali extended the lead in the 83rd minute, stretching out his leg to apply a clever finish, and Akram Tawfiq confirmed sealed their passage with a stoppage-time strike.
Esperance host the first leg of the final on May 18 with the return in Cairo seven days later.
