CAF Champions League Final: Al Ahly and Esperance battle for supremacy

Al Ahly face the test of Esperance Tunis in the 2018 CAF Champions League first leg final at the Borg El Arab Stadium in Alexandria, Egypt tonight.

Ahly saw off Algeria’s ES Setif 3-2 over two-leg semi-finals, while Esperance overcame Angola’s Primeiro de Agosto with a hard-fought 4-3 triumph.

Egypt's Al Ahly and Tunisia's Esperance de Tunis are on the cusp of glory, as they prepare to go head-to-head to see who will win the CAF Champions League and represent Africa at the FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2018.

All eyes will be on the Borg El Arab Stadium tonight and the Stade Olympique de Rades on Friday 9 November to see who emerges victorious.

The Cairo giants will be hoping to pen a bright, new chapter in their already-storied history with a victory this year.

After finishing runners-up in 2017, falling at the final hurdle for a second consecutive year would be devastating for Al Ahly fans, who regard their side as perennial favourites for this competition because of their eight previous titles.

During this campaign, Al Ahly endured a shaky start in the group stage before hitting their stride. Concerns of an early exit were soon forgotten, as the Red Devils’ strike force came to the fore in the latter part of the competition to power the team to the final.

Under the stewardship of French coach Patrice Carteron, the club has assembled a squad that is both pragmatic and consistent, while still being effective in attack and tactically disciplined.

The match will see the introduction of the VAR technology as CAF pulls all stops to ensure a fair final for all.

Record eight-time champions Al Ahly will be trying to savour the elusive ninth glory for the second successive time after failing at the same stage last season against Wydad Casablanca.

The Red Devils have been on the road to nine since 2013 when they last kissed and raised the Holy Grail of Africa’s club football and they believe the end of the long could start tonight with experienced French coach Patrice Carteron as they grace their 12th final.

Patrice on the other side will be chasing his own personal history.

The 48-year-old who won the continental glory with TP Mazembe three years back will be gunning to join a group of prestigious coaches who have won the gong twice with two different clubs.

Ahly, who host their North African rivals in the first leg at Alexandria's Borg El-Arab Stadium on Friday, are determined not to let another trophy slip out of their grasp following an agonising defeat by Morocco's Wydad Casablanca in last year's final.

TEAM NEWS

Ahly Ahly 

Ahly’s veteran goalkeeper, El Shenawy, has passed a late fitness test after suffering a muscle complication in a domestic cup clash last weekend.

Walid Azarro returns after sitting out last weekend’s encounter, while Moamen Zakaria, Ali Maaloul and Junior Ajayi will have to watch from the stands due to their respective injuries.

Esperance De Tunis

The 'Mkachkha' travel to Egypt without Maher Besseghaier, Ayman Ben Mohamed and Haythem Jouini who are out of the game with injuries.
The Blood and Gold welcome back skipper Khalil Chamam from suspension


MATCH FACTS

The Red Devils and ‎Mkachkha derby is noted as one of Africa’s greatest battles. The pair has clashed on 14 occasions in this competition with 2012 final rated as a classic. Ahly scooped a 3-2 aggregate victory after recording a dispiriting 1-1 draw at home in the first leg.

The 28-time Tunisian champions are seeking a third continental title having lifted the trophy in 1994 and 2011. Mouine Chaabani’s side have contested the Champions League 22 times previously, reaching the final six times (three between 2010 and 2012).

Again, Esperance met Al Ahly in the 2012 showpiece, but after drawing the first leg away they lost the second leg at home to eventually come up short, beaten 3-2 on aggregate. After finishing second in the groups to Ahly this year, they won all four of their knockout matches.

Al Ahly, on the other hand,  are synonymous with success both at home and on the continent. the Red Devils have clinched a record 40 national league titles, while they have been crowned African champions an unprecedented eight times.

Beaten finalists last year, their most recent triumph arrived in 2013, when they successfully defended the trophy.

In this year’s tournament, Patrice Carteron’s men have been defeated twice in 10 matches. Met Esperance twice in the groups, winning 1-0 away before drawing 0-0 in the return in Egypt.

Al Ahly have played 12 games, starting from the second preliminary round, while Esperance have played 14, starting one round earlier.

Al Ahly have recorded eight wins, two draws, and two defeats, while Esperance also have eight wins and two defeats, as well as four draws.

Al Ahly have scored 23 goals (1.91 per game), while Esperance have registered 22 goals (1.57 per game.

Al Ahly have conceded just eight goals (and none during eight games), while Esperance have shipped nine goals (and none during seven games).

Read also: CAF Champions League final: Al Ahly want titles not finals- Patrice Carterton

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Anice Badri (Esperance) and Walid Azaro (Al Ahly) will be also be competing to be this year’s top scorer in the CAF Champions League.

Badri leads the way on seven goals, along with two other players no longer in contention, while Azaro is just one back on six. With 180 minutes still to play, both will have time to stake their claim.

HEAD TO HEAD RECORD

1990 CAF Champions League – 1/8th finals

Tunis             Esperance 0-0 Ahly

Cairo             Ahly 0-0* Esperance 

*Esperance won 4-2 on penalty shootout

2001 CAF Champions League – Semifinal

04.11.2001    Cairo            Ahly 0-0 Esperance

17.11.2001    Tunis             Esperance 1-1 Ahly (Edilton Perreira 2’/ Sayed Abdel Hafeez 83′)

2007 CAF Champions League – Group stage

20.07.2007    Cairo             Ahly 3-0 Esperance (Mohamed Abu Treika 12′, Flavio Amado 77′, Ossama Hosny 85′)

04.08.2007    Rades            Esperance 1-0 Ahly (Salama Kasdaoui 38′)

2010 CAF Champions League – Semifinal

03.10.2010    Cairo             Ahly 2-1 Esperance (Mohamed Fadl 38′, Ahmed Fathy 68′ / Oussama Darragi 72′)

17.10.2010    Rades            Esperance 1-0 Ahly (Michael Eneramo 1′)

2011 CAF Champions League – Group stage

30.07.2011    Rades            Esperance 1-0 Ahly (Yannick N’Djeng 14′)

16.09.2011    Cairo             Ahly 1-1 Esperance (Mohamed Abu Treika 54′ / Yaya Banana 17′)

2012 CAF Champions League – Final

04.11.2012    Alexandria     Ahly 1-1 Esperance (Elsayed Hamdy 88′ / Walid Hichri 49′)

17.11.2012    Rades            Esperance 1-2 Ahly (Yannick N’Djeng 85′ / Mohamed Nagy “Geddo” 43′, Waleed Suleiman 63′)

2015 CAF Confederation Cup – Group stage

28.06.2015    Suez             Ahly 3-0 Esperance (Abdullah Elsaid 20′, Abdullah Elsaid 58′, Moamen Zakaria 90′)

22.08.2015    Rades            Esperance 0-1 Ahly (John Antwi 5′)

2017 CAF Champions League – Quarterfinal

16.09.2017    Alexandria     Ahly 2-2 Esperance (Abdullah Elsaid 11′, Walid Azaro 67′ / Taha Yassine Khenissi 21′, Ghilane Chaalali 48′)

23.09.2017    Rades             Esperance 1-2 Ahly (Taha Yassine Khenissi 40′ / Ali Maaloul 50′, Junior Ajayi 62′)

2018 CAF Champions League – Group stage

04.05.2018    Alexandria     Ahly 0-0 Esperance

17.08.2018    Rades            Esperance 0-1 Ahly (Walid Azaro 32′)

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