- Al Ahly SC beat TP Mazembe 3-0 to seal a spot in the CAF Champions League final for the fifth successive season
- TP Mazembe and Haifa FC’s record of number of successful final were smashed by the record 11-time champions
- Al Ahly SC will face Esperance of Tunis in a two-leg final next month in a remake of 2018 final which the latter emerged victorious
Defending champions Al Ahly SC of Egypt rallied late to beat resolute TP Mazembe by 3-0 on Friday evening in the semi-final of the 2023/24 CAF Champions League at the Cairo International stadium to secure a fifth successive qualification for the final of the competition for the fifth season running.
Al Ahly played goalless in the reversed fixture in Lubumbashi and were made to sweat for the 3-0 aggregate win inspired by goals from Mohamed Abdelmonem, Wissam Abu Ali and Akram Tawfik.
What appears to be easy affair at the end of it all was more difficult as Ahly fans needed VAR review to help Kenyan Referee, Peter Waweru chalk off a goal which Joey Beya made a hand control before scoring for the Ravens. Al Ahly survived the scare before opening score in the final 22 minutes from a bullet Abdelmonem header which Senegalese goalkeeper Aliou Bardara spilled.
Percy Tau leads Al Ahly SC celebrations
Palestinian forward, Wissam added the second during regulation time before Tawfik concluded affairs deep into stoppage time to ensure Al Ahly SC became the first club to reach five consecutive finals of the competition, beating the four successive finals record they shared with Mazembe and Haifa FC before kick-off.
Though Mazembe have enjoyed a great season under coach Lamine Ndiaye, record winners Al Ahly SC ended their ride then advanced to yet another final hoping to add to their 11 title so far and retain the crown won last season.
Marcel Koller’s team will face Esperance of Tunis in the two-leg final next month in a repeat of the 2018 final which Esperance won.
Esperance on their part reached the final after a 2-0 aggregate win against Mamelodi Sundowns was sealed on Friday night at the Loftus Road.
Esperance of Tunis players celebrating goal against Sundowns
20-year-old Tunisian forward, Raed Bouchniba climbed off the bench to settle it with a 58th minute goal in favour of the Tunisian giants who traveled to South Africa with a one goal advantage from the reversed fixture.
The first-leg of the final will be played in Tunis on 18 May, while the return will happen in Cairo a week later as the best in this season’s competition go all-out to crown it with the coveted trophy.
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