Ahly, Esperance clash in CAF Champions League final

• The two teams played to a 0-0 draw in the first leg
• The return tie will be played in Cairo
• Ahly have won a record 12 CAF CL titles

Record champions Al Ahly and Tunisia’s Esperance will clash in the return leg of their CAF Champions League final duel in Cairo, with the tie evenly poised. The two teams played to a thrilling 0-0 draw in the first leg in Rades, and there will be all to play for when they face off in the Egyptian capital.

Ahly are seeking a record extending 13th African crown, and their Swiss tactician Marcel Koller is looking to lead them through to a second consecutive title.

With an impressive unbeaten streak of 12 matches (8 wins, 4 draws) this season, the reigning champions are beaming with confidence.

“We are playing at home and so that gives us a bit of confidence. But we know we face a very tough team in Esperance and we saw what they can do in the first leg. We will approach the match with caution and everyone wants to do the best and achieve history,” said the coach, ahead of the game.

Koller’s personal record in the competition is equally formidable; in 27 matches, he has 18 wins, seven draws, and two defeats (both in the group stage) since his appointment in September 2022. Notably, he guided Al Ahly to a semi-final victory over Esperance last season, winning both legs.

If Al Ahly emerges victorious in the two-legged tie, Koller will secure his second continental title, and the team will lift the trophy back-to-back for the fourth time in the competition’s history.

Cardoso confident Esperance can stun Ahly

Action between Al Ahly and Esperance in the first leg. PHOTO/CAF

Esperance head coach Miguel Cardoso says the team is optimistic and confident they can stun record African champions Al Ahly when the two sides clash in the final of the CAF Champions League in Cairo.

The two sides drew 0-0 in the first leg played in Rades last weekend, and Cardoso believes they have picked enough lessons to see them beat the Red Devils at their own turf.

“We believe that our dream will become true. We face a challenge which I believe we are capable of overcoming. We know that we are facing a tough team in Ahly and we respect them a lot. We have studied them with their strengths and weaknesses and I know we can come up with something magical,” the tactician said.

He added; “I believe in my players. We are in a final and they know what is expected of them. They have the hunger and the desire and hopefully we can translate it into the match.”

Appointed in January 2024, the Portuguese coach is seeking revenge for Esperance’s back-to-back semi-final defeats to Al Ahly last season.

Cardoso makes a significant impact

Esperance celebrate after a goal in the AFL

In his first African coaching stint, Cardoso has made a significant impact at Esperance, with nine wins, three draws, and two losses in 14 matches across all competitions.

Notably, he remains unbeaten in the Champions League, with five wins and a draw in six matches, keeping clean sheets in all of them.

Esperance’s impressive semi-final victories over Mamelodi Sundowns showcased their determination to dethrone the reigning champions. If Cardoso leads Esperance to the title, he will secure his first major trophy, having not won any at his previous clubs.