Al Ahly and Esperance will both compete in FIFA’s expanded Club World Cup next year. In the final, held in Cairo, Al Ahly clinched their record-extending 12th African Champions League title after defeating Esperance 1-0. The first leg of the match ended in a goalless draw in Tunisia, but Al Ahly secured an early lead in the second leg with a goal from Rami Rabia.
Despite creating more opportunities, Al Ahly was unable to extend their lead in the first half. Esperance struggled to create chances against Al Ahly’s strong defense, with the Tunisian club unable to break through. Substitute Afsha came close to scoring a second goal for Al Ahly, but his free-kick hit the crossbar. Ultimately, Al Ahly held on to win 1-0 on aggregate, securing their fourth Champions League title in five years.
Al Ahly’s unbeaten run in continental competition extended to 22 games, with Mostafa Shobeir keeping nine consecutive clean sheets throughout the tournament. The Cairo club also won back-to-back Champions League titles for the fourth time. Both Al Ahly and Esperance had already qualified for the Club World Cup, along with Wydad Casablanca and Mamelodi Sundowns. The tournament will take place in the United States in June and July next year. A capacity crowd at the Cairo International Stadium witnessed Al Ahly’s victory in the final.
