On 15 March 2002, the Red Eagles were chasing another milestone in the club’s history of successes. We have never won the CAF Super Cup title and it was time to find a space in our crowded cabinet for the missing trophy.

We had a chance to win the title for the first time in our history after bringing back the CAF Champions League trophy in 2001 on a spectacular night in Cairo.

Khaled Bebo, our number 9 at the time and the current head of the club’s youth sector, scored three goals in the return leg of the final at home against Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa, securing the prestigious title for the third time in our history. A title which was last achieved when Mahmoud El Khatib, Al Ahly’s president lifted the trophy in 1987.

Bebo’s hat-trick produced one of the most memorable nights for our fans, who were looking forward to the CAF Super Cup as a perfect chance to celebrate.

Our coach Manuel Jose and his players, Bebo, Hossam Ghaly, Wael Gomaa, Gilberto, and their teammates were aware of the golden chance they have to consolidate their legacy but they had to face another South African superpower, Kaizer Chiefs, the 2001 African Cup Winners' Cup champions, led by South Africa’s veteran midfielder, Doctor Khumalo. 

Our fans packed the stands of the home of Egyptian football, ready to support their heroes’ clinch the long-awaited trophy.

Jose relied on his favorite formation (5-3-2) for the day, with Bebo and Reda Shehata leading our attack.

Our starting line-up:

Essam El Hadary, Wael Gomaa, Hady Khashaba, Ahmed El Sayed, Ahmed Abou Moslem, Sayed Abdelhafiz, Hossam Ghaly, Adel Mostafa, Gilberto, Khaled Bebo, and Reda Shehata.

Kaizer Chief’s starting line-up:

Brian Baloyi, Patrick Mabedi, Isaac Mabotsa, Cyril Nzama, Jossias Macamo, Thabo Mooki, Jabu Mahlangu, Arthur Zwane, Stanton Fredericks, Mmthembu and Shaun Permall.

Bebo, our Champions League final hero, needed just six minutes to give us the lead, but the South Africans surprised us less than 15 minutes later with the equalizer.

Towards the end of the first half, Hossam Ghaly gave us the lead once again after meeting Bebo’s cross with a sensational header.

In the second half, a bizarre goal from our goalkeeper El Hadary widened the gap while Sayed Abdelhafiz, now our director of football, rounded off the game with a smart shot from inside the box to finish the game 4-1 for the Eagles.

Since that night, we added another six CAF Super Cup titles but none of them were against a South African team and until now we did not have the chance to meet Kaizer Chiefs again. 

We will meet against after 20 years but this time in the CAF Champions League final and behind closed doors at Mohamed V Stadium in Casablanca.