Cairo, Egypt – Egyptian football giants Al Ahly have clinched their 12th CAF Champions League title after defeating Tunisia’s Esperance 1-0 in the final held in Cairo on Saturday.
The match, crucial after a 0-0 draw in the first leg in Tunisia, saw an early breakthrough for Al Ahly. Just four minutes into the game, an Esperance player inadvertently deflected a header into his own net following a corner by Hussein El Shahat. This goal proved decisive, securing Al Ahly’s victory and their place at the pinnacle of African club football once again.
The victory sent Al Ahly fans into a frenzy of celebration. Alaa Sayed, an ardent supporter of the club, expressed his overwhelming joy despite not being able to enter the stadium. “I swear to God, our happiness cannot be described. We tried to enter the stadium but we couldn’t. My happiness is just as if I entered the stadium. This is the 12th championship, this number is just twice the number our rivals have. We are the champions of Africa and no one can ever reach that number,” he said in Arabic.
Another passionate fan, Essam, shared his optimism for future successes. “Congratulations to Al Ahly and their fans, congratulations to Egypt, and hopefully we will see you again in the 13th championship.”
Saturday’s victory also extended Al Ahly’s unbeaten streak in the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League to 20 matches, underscoring their dominance in the competition.
The win reinforces Al Ahly’s status as the most successful club in African football history, adding yet another trophy to their illustrious collection. As the team and their fans revel in this historic achievement, the focus will soon shift to maintaining their supremacy in future tournaments.