Al Ahly’s quest for a record extending 11th CAF Champions League title remains evenly poised after edging out defending champions Wydad Athletic Club 2-1 in Cairo on Sunday night, in the first leg of the final.
South African Percy Tau and Mahmou Kahraba scored a goal a piece for Ahly, but substitute Said Eddine Bouhra scored a vital away goal for Wydad late in the second half.
The return fixture will be played in Cacablanca next weekend, Wydad needing just a win to defend their title while Ahly will reclaim their crown if they avoid defeat.
In Cairo, Ahly were keen to ensure they wrapped up the tie before traveling to a hostile Casablanca, and they had a brilliant start, dominating the entire first half.
Ahly had a penalty decision overruled by VAR on the half hour mark. The referee had initially pointed to the spot after Ali Maaloul’s freekick seemingly bounced off a hand inside the box but after visiting the pitchside monitor, the ref changed his initial decision.
Wydad came close to breaking the deadlock in the 39th minute, but were denied by a brilliant Mostafa Shoubir save. The custodian sprinted off his line to narrow the gap and save Reda Jaadi’s volley after Bouly Sambou had nodded down a freekick for him.
The Egyptian Red Devils however went to the break a goal up when they scored at the stroke of 45 minutes.
Tau thumped in a header unmarked at the far post after being picked out by a well diced Hussein Elshahat cross.
In the second half, Ahly continued with the same momentum and Kahraba smashed home on the hour mark after Elshahat picked a long ball from Mohamed Hany on the left before cutting it back into the area.
Despite going down 2-0, Wydad kept fighting and they were denied by the base of the upright in the 68th minute when left back Yahya Attiat Allah swung a volley from the edge of the area.
In the 79th minute, they had another effort at goal but were denied once again by a brilliant Shoubir save, the Ahly keeper palming away Ayoub El Amloud’s shot from the right.
Their hunger was finally rewarded with four minutes to play when Bouhra, barely two minutes on the pitch rifled into the back of the net after Sambou touched an Amloud cut back into his direction.
