- With a goal and an assist, Cameroon forward Toko Ekambi led Abha to a stunning win over favorite Al-Ahli in the round of 16 of the Kings Cup of Champions.
- Abha showed great resilience against Riyad Mahrez and his teammates, even after losing two players to red cards, Al Sudani and F. Kamano.
- Ekambi’s side aims to lift their maiden King Cup of Champions trophy, after falling short to Al-Hilal in the semi-finals last season.
Abha pulled off a stunning upset by defeating Al-Ahli 2-1 at the Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium on Tuesday.
Karl Toko Ekambi scored the winner for the team, in the 76th minute, after assisting Sami Al-Jaber for the opener.
Riyad Mahrez was however quick to put an equalizer pass Ciprian Tătărușanu through a penalty in extra time, cancelling Sami Al-Jaber’s goal. Ekambi’s strike was Abha’s last gift in the month of October.
The visitors were outnumbered on the pitch. Zakaria Sami was shown a red card in the 53rd minute following the referee’s review of the VAR. Abha played for more than 37th minutes with ten men before Kamano received a second yellow in the fourth minute of injury time.
This numerical disadvantage affected the team’s attempts, with ball possession and shots all in the favor of the host.
Nevertheless, the leaders of the south managed to retain their lead until the final whistle.
Ekambi, who joined Abha on loan from Olympique Lyonnais in January, has been in sensational form for his new club.
He has scored four goals and assisted three , helping Abha climb to fourth place in the Saudi Professional League and reach the last eight of the King Cup of Champions.
Abha is in the quarter-finals of the King’s Cup of Champions for the second time, and they will rely on the skills of their 2021 AFCON third-place winner, Karl Toko Ekambi, to reach the semi-finals again.
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