Al Ahly crowned champions of Africa for record-extending 12th title

Egyptian giants, Al Ahly have once again reigned supreme as kings of African club football, following their TotalEnergies CAF Champions League final 1-0 win over Tunisia’s Esperance Sportive de Tunis at a packed to the rafters Cairo International Stadium on Saturday evening.

This was the Egyptians’ 12th TotalEnergies CAF Champions League title, with Saturday’s win being the fourth time they lift the continent’s most prestigious title in succession – a feat that rubber stamps their authority as African football club kings.

The win on Saturday also marks 20 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League matches without a loss for the champions. They also finish the campaign with the best defensive record, with just a single goal conceded in this season.

Following a goalless stalemate in Rades last week, the Egyptians with the backing of a highly vocal Cairo International Stadium went into the clash with a slight advantage over the four-time African champions who have been in desperate search for an elusive fifth title since 2019.

Ahly’s only goal of the match came courtesy of an unfortunate own goal by Roger Aholou after a header by Ramy Moustafa came off the inside of defender’s leg to beat young goalkeeper, Amenallah Memmiche in the 4th minute.

Played at an electrifying pace under the Cairo stars, both sides had an equal go at each other throughout the encounter, with attack after attack being thwarted by equally solid defending.

A glaring chance for Esperance came in the 52nd minute when TKA’s low drive almost caught Mostafa Shobeir off guard, who was fortunate to see the strike go inches wide.