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JOHANNESBURG: Defender Mohamed Abdelmonem equalized on the evening as Al Ahly of Egypt drew 1-1 at Wydad Casablanca of Morocco on Sunday to win the CAF Champions League for a record-extending eleventh time. His aim cancelled the lead Yahia Attiyat Allah gave the defending champions and earned the Cairo membership a 3-2 mixture victory after constructing a 2-1 first-leg lead seven days in the past. Defeat for Wydad ended a run of two remaining victories over Ahly, and so they paid the penalty for concentrating on defending their fragile second-leg lead as a substitute of in search of additional objectives.
In contrast to Europe, away objectives depend double in African membership competitions when sides end degree on mixture and Wydad would have retained the trophy had they received 1-0. Ahly pocketed a document 4 million {dollars} for profitable and Marcel Koller grew to become the primary Swiss coach to win the premier African membership competitors. It was the third Champions League triumph in 4 seasons for Ahly after victories over fellow Egyptians Zamalek in 2020 and Kaizer Chiefs of South Africa the next yr. Wydad made two adjustments to the facet that started the primary leg in Cairo final weekend with attackers Mohamed Ounajem and Saifeddine Bouhra changing Reda Jaadi and Zouhair el Moutaraji.
Veteran Ounajem was a part of the Wydad group to beat Ahly within the 2017 remaining whereas Bouhra scored final Sunday after approaching as a late substitute. Ahly made one change with fit-again first alternative goalkeeper Mohamed el Shenawy returning instead of Ahmed Shobeir. The second leg was the thirteenth time the African membership giants had met within the Champions League with Ahly holding a 5-3 lead and 4 matches drawn. Among the many capability crowd within the 65,000-seat Stade Mohammed V was Patrice Motsepe, a South African billionaire and president of the Confederation of African Soccer (CAF).
Big day For referee Bamlak Tessema Weyesa from Ethiopia it was a special day – his final match earlier than retiring on the age of 42 after 14 years dealing with worldwide fixtures. As the primary half obtained underneath approach, an unlucky function of African soccer reared its ugly head once more with inexperienced lasers pointed at visiting gamers to try to distract them. Moroccan Ayoub El Amloud had the primary clearcut likelihood simply previous the 10-minute mark, however after a blinding dribble into the world, his tame, inaccurate shot posed no risk.
The Ahly strike drive of Mahmoud Kahraba, South African Percy Tau and Hussein el Shahat had scored 15 Champions League objectives earlier than the second leg, however had been unable to hassle Wydad early on. Wydad broke the impasse when an Attiyat Allah free-kick near the touchline floated into the goalmouth, eluded El Shenawy, and landed within the far nook of the online. Ahly made no headway earlier than half-time as they tried to equalise and their frustrations led to yellow playing cards for Kahraba and El Shahat, whereas Bouhra was cautioned for time losing.
No person was extra relieved when a 51-minute opening half completed than the referee, who was battling to maintain management of some bad-tempered Moroccans and Egyptians. Halfway by means of the second half smoke from flares restricted visibility resulting in play being quickly halted. A set piece gave Wydad the lead and one other one – a nook from Ali Maaloul – arrange Abdelmonem to equalize with a glancing header into the far nook that surprised the group. Ahly had loads of second-half possession, however didn’t critically threaten Wydad goalkeeper Youssef el Motie earlier than leveling.- AFP
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