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Al-Ahly of Egypt bid farewell to the African Football League Championship – which was recently created by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) – following a 0-0 draw with its guest, Sun Downs of South Africa, in the semi-final second leg at Cairo Stadium on Wednesday.
Sun Downs qualified for the final match to face Wydad Casablanca of Morocco, which beat Esperance of Tunisia earlier today 5-4 on penalties.
Al-Ahly, which won the most African Champions League titles, lost in the first leg 0-1, failing to score against its guest in the presence of a huge crowd.
The size of the crowd attendance during the confrontation🏟🔥🤩#Ahly_Sundowns At Cairo Stadium.
#Ahly_Sundowns
#African_Football_League | #SSC pic.twitter.com/3oZBnTAOLF– Saudi Sports Company SSC (@ssc_sports) November 1, 2023
Ali Maaloul missed a penalty kick for Al-Ahly in the 12th minute after it was awarded to Bertsey Tau, after a strong intervention by the visitors’ goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, who blocked the Tunisian left-back’s kick.
Maaloul shot strongly with his left hand to the left of Williams, who converted the ball into a corner kick.
Sun Downs goalkeeper saves Maaloul’s ball from the penalty spot🧤
#Ahly_Sundowns
#African_Football_League | #SSC pic.twitter.com/WBxlWbWE5G– Saudi Sports Company SSC (@ssc_sports) November 1, 2023
The match referee awards a penalty kick for Al-Ahly of Egypt.
#Ahly_Sundowns
#African_Football_League | #SSC pic.twitter.com/BEL7rcVL30– Saudi Sports Company SSC (@ssc_sports) November 1, 2023
The seventh minute almost witnessed a dangerous attack after an incorrect pass from Williams reached Hussein Al-Shahat, who fired a shot that hit the defence.
Mahmoud Abdel Moneim (Kahraba) almost opened the game’s goals in the 24th minute, when he took advantage of the ball falling from Williams’ hand to follow it from close range, but it hit the left post in a very strange manner and the visitors’ defense kept it away.
In the middle of the first half, the visitors had an opportunity through Thapelo Maseko, but Akram Tawfiq intervened, frustrating his attempt.
Percy Tau’s shot from close range was met by the crossbar when he received a cross pass on his chest and shot directly after half an hour from the start, but the referee indicated that the South African striker was offside.
About 3 minutes later, Kahraba knocked the ball over the crossbar with a direct shot, following a perfect cross pass from midfielder Imam Ashour.
Al-Ahly continued its pressure in the second half, but this did not result in anything until its Swiss coach, Marcel Kohler, made three substitutions at once, including Anthony Modest, Mohamed Magdy (Afsha), Reda Selim instead of Al-Shahat, Kahraba, and Aliou Dieng.
Al-Ahly players demanded a penalty kick after Moroccan substitute Salim fell inside the penalty area, but the referee indicated that play should continue in the 75th minute.
Slim left the field immediately after his fall, and Ahmed Abdel Qader took his place in the 78th minute.
The referee shows the red card to the Sun Downs player 🟥
#Ahly_Sundowns
#African_Football_League | #SSC pic.twitter.com/g3zDLRxIhg– Saudi Sports Company SSC (@ssc_sports) November 1, 2023
Sun Downs completed the match with 10 players after substitute Junior Mendieta was sent off in the 84th minute after a reckless intervention on Tawfiq.
The referee resorted to the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology to review a handball by a Sun Downs defender in the second minute of stoppage time, but indicated that a drop-throw was awarded.
🧐 If you were the referee, what would you decide about this shot?#African_League | #Ahly_Sundowns #AFL pic.twitter.com/s2j5mHIg2H
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) November 1, 2023
