Al Ahly lose to Esperance in CAF Champions League
Al Ahly lost 3-2 to Tunisia’s Esperance at Cairo International Stadium on Saturday in the second leg of their CAF Champions League quarter-final, exiting the competition.
The Red Eagles had already lost 1-0 in the first leg in Tunisia last week, going out 4-2 on aggregate.
Al Ahly dominated the first half from the outset as they sought to overturn the first-leg deficit.
Emam Ashour came close to opening the scoring in the fifth minute with a header from inside the area, but the Esperance goalkeeper saved.
Defender Yasser Ibrahim also threatened with a header, but the defence cleared the danger shortly after.
The pressure paid off in the 10th minute when Mahmoud Trezeguet Hassan opened the scoring with a powerful close-range strike to give Al Ahly the lead.
Al Ahly continued to press, with Ahmed Sayed “Zizo” denied from inside the area in the 20th minute by a superb save from goalkeeper Bechir Ben Said.
Marwan Attia then tested the keeper with a long-range effort in the 31st minute, but Ben Said again produced a fine save to preserve the visitors’ deficit.
Trezeguet tried his luck from outside the area, but Ben Said was equal to the effort, denying the winger again before the break.
Second-half setback
Esperance began the second half on the front foot, with Jack Diarra forcing a save from goalkeeper Mostafa Shobier five minutes after the restart.
Florian Danho equalised for the visitors in the 68th minute with a right-footed strike from outside the area, denting Al Ahly’s hopes of reaching the semi-finals.
Esperance were awarded a penalty in the 76th minute after a foul by defender Hady Riad on Aboubacar Diakité inside the area.
Al Ahly coach Jess Thorup responded with attacking changes, bringing on Marwan Othman and Hussein El Shahat in place of Alio Dieng and Hady Riad.
Mohamed Tougai converted from the penalty spot to put Esperance ahead, leaving Al Ahly needing three goals to progress.
Substitute Othman pulled Al Ahly level with a header six minutes from time to revive the hosts’ hopes.
Thorup made a further change late on, introducing Ieltsin Kamwish for Emam Ashour as Al Ahly pushed for another goal.
However, Esperance sealed victory in stoppage time when defender Hamza Jelassi headed home to send the Tunisian side into the semi-finals.
