Al Ahly have booked their ticket to the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League semi-finals, completing a decisive double over Al Hilal with a hard-fought 1-0 victory in the second leg at the Sheikh Bedia Stadium in Mauritania on Tuesday evening.
Building on their identical 1-0 triumph in the first leg held in Cairo, the reigning champions showcased another masterclass in disciplined away performance, ultimately securing a 2-0 aggregate win and continuing their impressive continental campaign.
Once again, attacking midfielder and CAF Champions League Team of the Group Stage player Imam Ashour proved to be the catalyst for Al Ahly’s success, netting the crucial and solitary goal with ten minutes left to play, underscoring his pivotal role in this quarter-final tie.
This result propels the Red Devils into their remarkable 21st Champions League semi-final appearance – an astounding sixth consecutive showing at this prestigious stage. The upcoming semi-final promises a captivating encounter as they are set to clash with familiar adversaries, Mamelodi Sundowns, in what is undoubtedly a highly anticipated and mouth-watering showdown between two of the continent’s footballing giants.
The opening half in Mauritania unfolded as a tense and tactical battle, with both Al Ahly and Al Hilal demonstrating caution yet fierce determination in their midfield duels, each vying for control of the game’s tempo. However, it was the Egyptian powerhouse, under the astute guidance of Swiss coach Marcel Koller, who appeared the more assertive and purposeful in the initial exchanges.
Al Ahly’s Slovenian forward, Nejc Gradišar, came agonizingly close to breaking the deadlock early on, in the 9th minute. Capitalizing on a misplaced pass, he unleashed a powerful shot that demanded a sharp and crucial save from Al Hilal’s Ivorian goalkeeper, Issa Fofana, hinting at the attacking threat Al Ahly possessed.
A moment of concern rippled through the Al Ahly camp when the influential Imam Ashour took a knock during an aerial challenge. However, the tenacious 27-year-old quickly recovered, demonstrating his resilience and continuing to exert his influence across the pitch.
Al Ahly then carved out a golden opportunity in the 34th minute. A dangerous low cross evaded both Gradishar and Wissam Abu Ali in quick succession at close range, leaving the Al Ahly faithful wondering how the net had not rippled.
Minutes later, Ashour once again showcased his attacking prowess, testing Fofana’s reflexes with a thunderous strike from distance, forcing another save from the Al Hilal shot-stopper. Just before the halftime whistle, Al Hilal offered a glimpse of their attacking potential when a low cross caused a moment of panic in the Al Ahly defense, but the danger was ultimately cleared.
Following the restart, Al Hilal emerged with renewed vigor and a greater sense of urgency in their attacking endeavors. A clear cut chance to level the tie arrived just after an hour of play, when winger Ahmed Salem found himself one-on-one with Al Ahly’s in-form Egyptian international goalkeeper, Mohamed El Shenawy. However, El Shenawy stood tall, producing a vital save to deny the Sudanese side.
Al Ahly weathered this period of Al Hilal pressure and then delivered the decisive blow with just ten minutes remaining on the clock. Substitute Taher Mohamed Taher delivered a beautifully weighted cross into Al Hilal’s penalty area, where Imam Ashour finished with precision, securing Al Ahly’s spot in the semi-finals.
Despite a late surge from Al Hilal and an additional eight minutes of stoppage time, Al Ahly’s defense remained resolute and unyielding, expertly managing the final moments of the match. In the dying seconds, Ahmed Reda came close to adding a second goal for Al Ahly, but Fofana’s quick reflexes ensured the scoreline remained a respectable 1-0 on the night.