Al Ahly hold JS Kabylie to reach CAF Champions League quarters

Al Ahly secured a spot in the CAF Champions League quarter-finals on Saturday following a 0-0 draw against Algeria’s JS Kabylie in their penultimate Group B fixture.

The result moves the Egyptian giants to nine points at the top of the standings, one ahead of Morocco’s FAR Rabat, who kept pace with a 1-0 victory over Tanzania’s Young Africans earlier in the day.

While Al Ahly celebrated progression, the draw confirmed JS Kabylie’s elimination from the competition.

The Algerian side sit bottom of the group with three points, trailing third-placed Young Africans by two.

Shobier Shines

The hosts dominated the early exchanges, forcing Al Ahly goalkeeper Mostafa Shobier into a string of crucial saves.

Shobier remained the protagonist throughout the match, anchoring a disciplined defensive line that frustrated the Kabylie attack.

Al Ahly’s momentum was hampered just before halftime when winger Trezeguet sustained a muscle strain.

The injury forced the visitors to play the closing minutes of the opening period with 10 men before Danish coach Jess Thorup could reorganize at the interval.

Tactical Shift

Thorup introduced Taher Mohamed Taher for the injured Trezeguet at the restart and later fortified the defense with Ahmed Ramadan and Karim Fouad.

To maintain an attacking outlet, Thorup also handed minutes to newly signed Angolan striker Ieltsin Camoes and winger Hussein El Shahat.

Despite the late pressure from the hosts, Al Ahly held firm to ensure their path to the knockout stages of Africa’s premier club competition.

The Red Eagles will conclude the group stage on 15 February against FAR Rabat in a head-to-head battle to decide who claims the top seed in Group B.