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This clash marks another chapter in the enduring rivalry between two of African football’s titans.
Al Ahly holds a slight edge in their historical matchups, but Esperance will be eager to seize the advantage on home turf as they pursue their fifth Champions League triumph.
Esperance boast an illustrious history with four continental titles, while Al Ahly’s dominance is unrivaled with a staggering 11 Champions League trophies already in their cabinet. They aim to add a 12th to their collection following an impressive unbeaten journey to the final.
Marcel Koller, the coach of Al Ahly, acknowledges the heightened challenge his team faces, stating, “Every Champions League opponent raises their game against Ahly. We are the most successful club in Africa so everybody wants to beat us.”
On the other side, Miguel Cardoso, Esperance’s coach, emphasizes the importance of seizing the opportunity as he gets set to lift the most significant title of his coaching career.
“Reaching the final is the pinnacle,” said the Esperance boss. “We must grab this opportunity with both hands.”
Both teams have been defensively astute throughout the tournament, with goalkeepers Mostafa Shobeir of Al Ahly and Esperance’s Amanallah Memmiche standing out with remarkable performances, each boasting 11 clean sheets from 12 matches.
In attack, Al Ahly holds the advantage with a more prolific scoring record, led by South African winger Percy Tau and Hussein El Shahat.
Meanwhile, Esperance relies on Brazilian forward Yan Sasse for goals, supported by midfielders Houssem Ghacha, Mohamed Tougai, and Roger Aholou.
The return of influential midfielder Aliou Dieng from injury strengthens Al Ahly’s midfield, while defensive stalwart Badr Benoun is expected to recover from a knock.
With passionate home support, Esperance will aim to secure an early advantage in what promises to be an enthralling continental showdown before the teams reconvene in Cairo for the second leg.
