Al Ahly and Esperance Set for Clash in African Champions League Final
In the upcoming African Champions League final, defending champions Al Ahly of Egypt will face off against perennial rivals Esperance of Tunisia. This match follows their victories in the semi-finals, with Al Ahly defeating TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Esperance securing a surprise 1-0 win over South African champions Mamelodi Sundowns.
Al Ahly’s journey to the final saw them triumph with a 3-0 victory over TP Mazembe, following a goalless draw in the first leg. On the other hand, Esperance’s 20-year-old defender, Raed Bouchniba, scored a decisive goal in the 57th minute to secure a 1-0 away win against Sundowns, resulting in a 2-0 aggregate victory for the Tunisian side.
The match between Esperance and Sundowns faced a delay of 70 minutes due to a lightning strike in South Africa’s capital, which caused some floodlights to malfunction amid heavy thunderstorms.
Sundowns, despite winning the new African Football League this season, fell short of reaching the final, marking their eighth consecutive season without making it to the championship match.
