Esperance Sportive de Tunis produced a stunning performance in Cairo to eliminate Al Ahly from the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League, sealing a dramatic 3-2 victory on the night and a 4-2 aggregate triumph to reach the semi-finals.
The Tunisian giants, who had already claimed a narrow 1-0 advantage in the first leg in Rades, overturned an early deficit and struck a decisive late winner to silence the Cairo International Stadium and end the hopes of Africa’s most decorated club.
In a match packed with intensity, momentum swings and late drama, Esperance showed resilience and clinical edge to prevail in one of the standout ties of the competition.
Bright start from Al Ahly
Backed by a passionate home crowd, Al Ahly began the match with urgency and attacking intent, knowing they needed to overturn the first-leg deficit.
Their early pressure paid off in the 10th minute when Mahmoud Hassan “Trezeguet” capitalised on defensive uncertainty inside the box before firing home to give the hosts the lead and level the tie on aggregate.
The Egyptian side continued to dominate large spells of the first half, creating multiple opportunities through Trezeguet and their attacking midfielders, but Esperance goalkeeper Bechir Ben Said produced a series of crucial saves to keep his side in contention.
Despite Al Ahly’s superiority, the score remained 1-0 at the break, leaving the tie delicately balanced heading into the second half.
Esperance respond with authority
The momentum shifted dramatically after the restart as Esperance emerged with renewed energy and attacking purpose.
Their persistence was rewarded in the 68th minute when Florian Danho struck from distance, his powerful effort beating Mostafa Shobeir to bring the Tunisian side level on the night and restore their aggregate advantage.
The goal injected confidence into Esperance, who began to control the tempo and push Al Ahly deeper.
Moments later, the visitors were awarded a penalty following a defensive error inside the area. Mohamed Amine Tougai stepped up and calmly converted, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way to give Esperance a 2-1 lead and put them firmly in control of the tie.
Late twists and dramatic finish
Al Ahly, refusing to surrender, responded with urgency and threw numbers forward in search of a lifeline.
Their pressure paid off in the 84th minute when a corner kick caused confusion in the Esperance defence, resulting in an own goal that brought the score to 2-2 and reignited hope among the home supporters.
With the match finely poised and tensions rising, both teams pushed for a decisive goal in the closing stages.
But it was Esperance who delivered the final blow.
Deep into stoppage time, Hamza Jelassi rose inside the penalty area to head home the winning goal in the 94th minute, completing a dramatic turnaround after earlier putting the ball into his own net.
The goal sparked wild celebrations among the Tunisian players and fans, while leaving the home crowd stunned.
A statement victory
The final whistle confirmed Esperance’s progression to the semi-finals, where they will face the winner of the clash between Mamelodi Sundowns and Stade Malien.
For Al Ahly, the defeat marks a bitter end to their continental campaign, having lost both legs despite periods of dominance, particularly in Cairo.
Esperance, meanwhile, advance with renewed belief after a composed and determined display, underlining their credentials as serious contenders for the title.
In a tie defined by fine margins and decisive moments, it was the Tunisian side who seized their chances — and wrote another memorable chapter in African club football history.
SOURCE: CAF ONLINE
