1. Al Ahly are the undisputed kings of the continent
This is how rich and exciting Al Ahly’s trophy cabinet looks; 43 Egyptian Premier League titles, 39 Egypt Cups, 14 Egyptian Super Cups, 12 CAF Champions League titles, 8 CAF Super Cups and 1 CAF Confederation Cup. The Red Devils are one of the super clubs on the continent. Their 12th triumph last night will take a whole century before any club on the continent can get there and they are even asking for more. On the African continent, Al Ahly is the king and owner of club football after continuous dominance of the CAF’s inter-club competitions. The 2024-25 edition is yet to be kicked off but they have an 80% chance of winning their 13th. When will the Red Devils put a break to their total dominance?
2. Tanzanian giants proved that they are almost there
Yanga was in the finals of the 2022-23 CAF Confederation Cup and reached the quarter-finals of the CAF Champions League in the 2023-24 season. It was their second-ever campaign in the “Money Zone” but defied the odds and massacred Algerian Champions Belouizdad 4-0 to qualify from the group ahead of the much fancied Algerians. Young African rivals Simba SC qualified ahead of Wydad after showing great determination. Even though they lost in the quarter-finals against the eventual winners Al Ahly, they showed that they are just a step or two away from catching the big boys. It’s only a matter of time before a team from Tanzania will shake the continent and win the CAF Champions League because they have what it takes and they also mean business.
3. Mamelodi Sundowns needs a huge mentality to conquer Africa once again
Since 2016 when Mamelodi Sundowns conquered the continent under the guidance of Pitso Mosimane, the Brazilians have kept pushing for their second title but have always failed at the business end of the competition. They have been probably the best team in the group stages for the last five years but always lack the mental toughness to deal with the North Africans. They have been victims to Al Ahly, Wydad and Esperance in recent years in the knockout stage of the competition. The South Africans need a huge psychological boost in the future because their problem has been their mentality at the knockout stage. They always find things difficult and seem to lose ideas when in the semi-finals and quarter-finals against the North Africans.
4. West Africa is still not good enough to challenge for the ultimate
The last time any side from West Africa was in the finals of the CAF Champions League was in 2009 when Nigeria’s Heartland FC shocked everyone and made it to the finals albeit lost to TP Mazembe on away goal rule after a 2-2 aggregate draw.
The last triumph for WAFU clubs on the continent was in 2004 when Enyimba won 5-3 on penalties after 3-3 aggregate scores. It is twenty good years and there’s no glory for the WAFU region. A whole lot is wrong with West Africa when it comes to club football as it is likely it will take another two decades before any team can lift the coveted CAF Champions League trophy. In the just-ended season, Ghana’s Medeama, Cote d’Ivoire’s Asec Mimosas and FC Nouadhibou from Mauritania represented the region. Asec Mimosas made it to the quarter-finals, Medeama finished at the bottom of Group D and Nouadhibou pipped Egypt’s Pyramids to finish third in Group A. It has been dark years for clubs from West Africa.
5. Marcel Koller makes Al Ahly chiefs’ decision to appoint him excellent
The 64-year-old Swiss tactician has won 8 trophies in 2 years for Al Ahly. Two CAF Champions League titles, three Egyptian Super Cups, two Egyptian Cups and one Egyptian Premier League. The 8th title was on Saturday night at the Cairo International Stadium when the Red Devils beat Esperance Sportive de Tunis 1-0 thanks to Roger Aholou’s early own goal. Al Ahly’s structure is so good that winning has not been a problem for anyone. There were doubts about Koller’s appointment but he has made Al Ahly’s decision to hire him a right one. After the game in his press conference, Koller said that the Al Ahly fans ought to be patient with their demand or more. Marcel Koller has the strenght to satisfy Al Ahly’s fans appetite as he has proven it in his two years stint.
6. Nouadhibou and Medeama’s appearances in the group stage was a victory for the minnows
Minnows stories in football are not often. In the 2023-24 CAF Champions League season, two minnows from nowhere popped up with sheer determination. Nouadhibou has been winning in Mauritania but has not reached this level in their history. The minnows defied many odds and even beat Pyramids of Egypt in the group stages and also finished ahead of them. Ghana’s Medeama charged in the second round of the Ghana Premier League in 2023 and subsequently won their first league trophy. Few Ghanaians gave them the chance to reach the money zone but they shocked them. In probably the group of death, Medeama SC suffered in but it was a great trip. Their story is a motivation to the other less fancied clubs who wish to embark on a CAF Champions League journey especially Samartex 1996 of Ghana.
7. Many foreigners triumphed in the CAF Champions League
In Tunisia, Brazillian duo Yann Sasse and Rodrigo Rodrigues helped Esperance reached the finals. The legendary French forward Anthony Modeste won his first huge trophy in his career. At age 36, the towering forward spent most of his career with FC Koln and never won anything. With Al Ahly, Anthony Modeste is a continental champion. Wissem Abou Ali who joined Al Ahly in January 2024 from Swedish club IK Sirius has won his first major trophy as a professional footballer. Born in Aalborg in Denmark to Palestinian parents, the 25-year-old striker played his part in Al Ahly’s success.
Sundowns’ South American contingents of Allende Bravo of Chile, Lucas Costa of Brazil, Esquivel Matia of Argentina, Gaston Sirino of Unruguay and Junior Mendieta of Argentina all attracted huge interest from outside the continent. Their presence will pave way for many talented South Americans and Europeans to ply their trade in Africa.
