TUNIS – The first leg of the Total Energies CAF Champions League Final concluded with a goalless stalemate, after Espérance Sportive de Tunis was held to a 0-0 draw by defending champions, Al Ahly SC on Saturday evening, putting Al Ahly in an advantageous position for next week’s return leg in Egypt.
By Edwin T. Battaforyen, contributing writer
The first of two legs took place in Rades, with four-time champions, Espérance hoping to take the advantage ahead of what is expected to be a tough return leg in Cairo next Saturday.
As expected, it was the hosts who asked questions yet again, this time coming very close with Roger Aholou testing Mostafa Shobeir from range with a well-taken curler that went just over the bar.
Despite enjoying the bulk of the possession, the hosts hardly created glaring chances, with the low-sitting last line of defense by the reigning champions proving to be too hard to break.
The dangerous Al Shahat almost broke the hearts of the hosts before the break after his snapshot from range went inches wide off target to the relief of the young Amanallah Memmiche, who continues in his fine form.
Rodrigues Silver almost found the opener in the early opening minutes after a well-taken cross by Houssem Tka connected with the striker’s header which went inches wide of goal.
The two sides went into the break with very few created chances and were determined to find the opener at the start of the second stanza.
With the backing of the crowd, the hosts continued surging forward but the resolute defense of the defending champions stood its ground.
The introduction of Ahly’s trusted talisman, Afsha sparked life into the Ahly attack, as they came close just after the hour mark after some good interplay concluded with a brilliant strike from range by Emam Abdelghany that almost caught Memmiche off guard.
With the score tied at 0-0, the second leg of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League final in Cairo guarantees to be an action-packed affair, with both sides aiming to clutch their hands on Africa’s most prized club football possession.
With a draw in sight, the defending champions kept their discipline, as experienced players such as Percy Tau maintained possession to wind down the clock and frustrate the Tunisians to a goalless stalemate in front of their home fans.
Al Ahly are looking to extend their dominance of club football on the continent with a fourth Champions League success in the last five seasons, and a record-extending 12th overall.
