On the opening day of the CAF Champions League group stage, the Reds secured the first three points with a 4-2 home victory over Ivory Coast’s Stade d’Abidjan.

The Red Eagles dominated the game from minute one, showcasing their attacking power and their desire to have a strong start to the group stage. 

The match began with high intensity as the Reds quickly took control of the midfield, opening gaps in the opponent’s defense. 

In the 14th minute, Mohamed Magdy Afsha delivered a perfect cross to Mahmoud Kahraba, who struck the ball into the net to give Al Ahly an early lead. Just seven minutes later, Afsha doubled the score with a powerful finish after an amazing pass from Taher Mohamed Taher.

The third goal came in the 26th minute when Kahraba passed the ball to Hussein El Shahat, who placed it right into the net. However, the opponents managed to pull one back before halftime, ending the first half 3-1.

The second half began with the Reds maintaining control of the game and in the 49th minute, Khaled Abd El Fattah delivered a fantastic cross to Kahraba, who was in a perfect place to score his second goal of the night and Al Ahly’s fourth. The visitors managed to score another goal later in the game, but the Reds maintained their lead until the final whistle to win the match 4-2. 

Post-match reactions :
Marcel Koller 
“I’m happy with the team’s victory. We deserved the win despite some challenges. Our goal was to win and claim the three points, and we achieved that.”

“We started strong, scoring three goals in the first half, but there were moments where concentration dipped."

Khaled Abd El Fattah
“I’m pleased with the victory in the opening match of the group stage. It was a strong match, and we succeeded to achieve a solid start.”

“Our goal is to win every game, but there are no easy matches in the Champions League, especially with challenges like long travel hours, varying weather, and temperature differences.”