The first leg of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League Final ended in a goalless draw, as Espérance Sportive de Tunis and defending champions Al Ahly SC played to a 0-0 stalemate on Saturday evening.
Held in Rades, this match was crucial for Espérance, the four-time champions, who aimed to gain an edge before the challenging return leg in Cairo next Saturday.
Despite dominating possession, Espérance struggled to create clear opportunities. Al Ahly’s steadfast defense proved difficult to penetrate. Early on, Rodrigues Silver nearly scored when his header, following a precise cross from Houssem Tka, narrowly missed the target.
Al Ahly’s Al Shahat almost scored just before halftime with a long-range effort that went inches wide, much to the relief of Espérance’s young goalkeeper, Amanallah Memmiche, who continued to impress with his form.
Both teams entered halftime with limited chances and were eager to find a breakthrough in the second half. Espérance once again pressed forward, with Roger Aholou coming close to scoring with a long-range curler that narrowly missed the bar.
Buoyed by their home crowd, Espérance kept pushing, but Al Ahly’s resolute defense held firm. The introduction of Al Ahly’s key player, Afsha, invigorated their attack. Around the hour mark, Emam Abdelghany’s powerful long-range strike nearly caught Memmiche off guard, showcasing Al Ahly’s threat.
As the match neared its conclusion, Al Ahly focused on maintaining possession and frustrating Espérance. Experienced players like Percy Tau played a crucial role in preserving the draw, much to the disappointment of the home fans.
With the score locked at 0-0, the second leg of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League final in Cairo promises to be a thrilling contest. Both teams will be vying intensely for Africa’s most prestigious club football trophy.
