The second leg of the finals of the CAF Champions League will be played on Saturday with many prizes at stake in Cairo.
Al Ahly are the defending champions of the competition and are the bookie’s favourites to defend their title and lift the 12th one.
Marcel Koller’s side have been incredible in their journey to the finals as they are unbeaten in the competition having kept 10 clean sheets as Pacome Zouzoua’s equaliser for Yanga in the group stage is the only goal the Red Devils have conceded.
Esperance Sportive de Tunis on the other hand got off to an indifferent start to the season but things quickly changed when Miguel Cardoso took over ealier in 2024. His side has also kept 10 clean sheets with Al Hilal the only side to have scored a goal against them.
Date and Kick-off time
Saturday 25th May 2024 at 5 pm
Venue
Cairo International Stadium
Referees
Referee : Jean-Jacques Ngambo
Ndala (DR Congo)
Assistant Referee 1: Souru Phatsoane (Lesotho)
Asistant Referee 2 : Seydou Tiana (Burkina Faso)
VAR : Lahlou Benbraham (Algeria)
Assistant VAR : Daniel Laryea ( Ghana)
H2H
In the 23 meetings, Al Ahly has a better head-to-head record against Esperance.
Al Ahly has recorded 12 wins to Esperance’s 4 with 7 draws.
Al Ahly has won 7 out of the 12 home games played with Esperance haven’t recorded a single win in Egypt against Al Ahly.
Al Ahly Team News
Al Ahly will face Esperance on Saturday evening with almost a fully fit squad except Ali Maaloul who was substituted earlier in the first leg in Rades. El Shenaawy who has missed in action since the 2023 AFCON is part of the team. Marcel Koller is expected to make just a change to the first lX in Tunisia with Karim Fouad replacing the experienced Tunisian left-back Maaloul.
Esperance Sportive de Tunis Team News
The Tunisian club has no major injuries as they have travelled to Egypt with a fully fit squad. Miguel Cardoso is expected to maintain his 4-2-3-1 with the idea of catching the Egyptian on the break.
Al Ahly probable IX
4-3-3
Oufa Shobeir (GK)
Hany Mohammed, Ramy Rabia, Mohammed Abdelmonem, Karim Fouad (DF)
Tawfik Akram, Emam Ashour, Marwan Ateya (MDF)
El Shahat, Antony Modeste, Percy Tau (FW)
Esperance Probable IX
4-3-3
Memmiche (GK)
Amine Tougai, Yassine Meriah, Ben Ali, Ben Hamida (DF)
Roger Aholou, Chaaleli (CM)
Yann Sasse, Teka, Ghacha (AM)
Rodrigo Rodrigues (ST)
Predictions
Al Ahly are the favourites as they will have their incredible fans behind them in Cairo. Esperance can shock Al Ahly just like they did in Pretoria against Mamelodi Sundowns so do not write them off.
- Al Ahly 2-1 Esperance ST
