Esperance v Al-Ahly

Esperance 3-0 Al-Ahly: Tunisians win 4-3 on aggregate to lift Caf Champions League

Starting the tie 3-1 down from the first leg, Esperance flipped the Caf Champions League final on its head and convincingly won 3-0 against their much-fancied Egyptian opposition.

A Saad Bguir double set the tone for Esperance to launch the comeback against Al-Ahly. The Tunisians went on to claim their third Caf Champions League title, made all the more impressive since they experienced a difficult week after losing by two goals in Egypt.

Bguir managed to score the first goal just before the half-time whistle when Al-Ahly appeared to be cruising to victory. That opener caused a real scare for Al-Ahly in the dressing room. The goal came from excellent passing movements by the home side, that eventually resulted in Egypt international goalkeeper Mohamed el Shenawy facing an open Bguir and getting beaten from close range. Bguir made sure of this opportunity by striking it into the far corner of the net and giving hope to the Tunisian club.  

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In the second half Bguir moved Esperance ahead with his second goal of the match, in the 54th minute to cement his team's advantage. The goal was created thanks to the overlapping work of full-back Sameh Derbali who crossed for Bguir to score another goal from close range.

Esperance could now smell their first CAFCL title since 2011, having won their maiden title in 1994. As the score stood at 2-0 in Tunisia, Esperance would've still won on the away goals rule but Badri made sure of the result with a third goal, coming in the 86th minute.

It was a goal good enough to clinch the Cup, as Badri beat a number of players before cracking a brilliant shot past El Shenawy.

The 'Blood and Gold' finally put an end to their 10-match winless run against Africa's most successful team in the Caf Champions League. There were fears that this game could be spoilt by off the field incidents due to two controversial penalty decisions for Al-Ahly in Egypt. 

However even their Tunisian goalkeeper Moez Ben Cherifia wasn't troubled on the night, and the 60,000 crowd in Stade Olypique de Rades were on form to witness a historic triumph for Esperance.

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What should Percy Tau do next?

  • 24%Stick with Al Ahly
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  • 16%Reunite with Pitso in Saudi Arabia
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