Al Ahly, the record winners, have advanced to their sixth consecutive semi-final of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League after a 0-0 draw with Raja Club Athletic in Casablanca on Saturday.
With a 2-0 aggregate victory from the first leg played in Cairo last week, Al Ahly’s progress to the next round was secured.
For the second consecutive season, Raja has been eliminated by Al Ahly, having met the Egyptians at the same stage last year. Despite playing at their iconic Mohamed V Complex and hoping for support from the crowd, Raja could not overturn the 2-0 first-leg deficit.
Raja created numerous scoring opportunities, including a penalty just before halftime, but they squandered all of them. In the first half, Yousri Bouzouk had a chance, but Mohamed Elshenawy made a great save for a corner. Raja was awarded a penalty following an Aliou Dieng foul on Bouzouk inside the box, but Aliou Dieng missed the chance to equalize.
In the second half, Raja continued to press, but they were unable to score a goal. They had another superb opportunity when a superb cross from the right found the run of Hamza Khabba at the backpost, but the latter’s touch went wide with the keeper well beaten.
Al Ahly defended their aggregate cushion to make the last four and keep their hopes of an 11th African title alive.
