The stage is set for a titanic clash in African club football as Esperance of Tunisia welcomes Egyptian giants Al Ahly in the first leg of the 2023/24 CAF Champions League final. This fixture, slated for Saturday, is the latest chapter in one of the continent’s most storied rivalries.
With both sides boasting rich histories and glittering trophy cabinets, the encounter in Tunis promises to be a thrilling affair.
Al Ahly, the record 11-time champions, come into the final with an unbeaten run that underscores their dominance in African football. Under the guidance of Swiss coach Marcel Koller, the Red Devils have navigated the tournament with an aura of invincibility.
“Every Champions League opponent raises their game against Ahly. We are the most successful club in Africa so everybody wants to beat us,” cautioned Koller, highlighting the target on his team’s back.
Esperance, on the other hand, are no strangers to continental glory themselves, having lifted the CAF Champions League trophy four times. The Blood and Gold will be desperate to capitalize on their home advantage in the first leg to edge closer to a fifth title.
Their Portuguese manager, Miguel Cardoso, sees this as the pinnacle of his career after stints in various European leagues. “Reaching the final is the pinnacle,” said Cardoso. “We must grab this opportunity with both hands.”
Both teams have built their campaigns on rock-solid defenses. Goalkeepers Mostafa Shobeir of Al Ahly and Amanallah Memmiche of Esperance have been standout performers, each keeping 11 clean sheets in 12 matches.
Shobeir, stepping in for the injured captain Mohamed El Shenawy, has been a revelation and now poses a selection dilemma for Koller ahead of the final. Memmiche, just 20 years old, has similarly displaced Esperance’s veteran Moez Ben Cherifia to become a key figure in their unexpected journey to the final.
Offensively, Al Ahly have shown greater potency, netting 19 goals compared to Esperance’s 9. South African winger Percy Tau and the prolific Hussein El Shahat spearhead the Egyptian attack, providing a constant threat to any defense.
Meanwhile, Esperance will rely heavily on Brazilian forward Yan Sasse, who has contributed three goals. The Tunisian side’s creative midfield, featuring Algerians Houssem Ghacha and Mohamed Tougai along with Togo’s Roger Aholou, will be crucial in breaking down Al Ahly’s formidable backline.
The visitors will be buoyed by the return of influential midfielder Aliou Dieng and the likely recovery of defensive stalwart Badr Benoun. These reinforcements could prove pivotal in a match where fine margins often determine the outcome.
As the teams prepare to battle in front of a passionate Tunisian crowd, the atmosphere will be electric. Esperance will look to exploit the fervor of their home supporters to gain an upper hand before heading to Cairo for the decisive second leg. The clash is more than just a football match; it’s a contest of legacies, pride, and the quest for African supremacy.
In what promises to be an epic duel, both Esperance and Al Ahly are poised to give everything in pursuit of the coveted CAF Champions League trophy. As the first leg unfolds, fans across the continent will be glued to their screens, eagerly anticipating a spectacle of the highest order in African club football.
Photo: CAF Online
