Tunisian giants Espérance Sportive de Tunis produced a memorable performance in Cairo after edging out Egyptian powerhouse Al Ahly SC 3-2 in a thrilling encounter to book their place in the semi-finals of the CAF Champions League.
The victory secured a 4-2 aggregate triumph for Esperance, completing a famous knockout of Africa’s most decorated club in front of their home supporters at Cairo International Stadium on Saturday night.
Coming into the second leg with a slim 1-0 advantage from the first meeting in Rades, Esperance knew they would face a difficult challenge in Cairo.
ALSO READ: FAR Rabat knock out defending Champions Pyramids to reach CAF Champions League semi-finals
Esperance stun Al Ahly in Cairo to seal CAF Champions League semi-final spot
As expected, Al Ahly started the match aggressively, determined to overturn the deficit and keep their continental hopes alive. The hosts made their intentions clear early in the game and were rewarded in the 10th minute when Mahmoud Hassan “Trezeguet” capitalized on defensive uncertainty to fire home and level the tie on aggregate.
Al Ahly dominated large parts of the first half, pushing forward with urgency and creating several chances through their attacking players.
However, Esperance goalkeeper Bechir Ben Said stood tall, producing crucial saves to keep his side in the game. Despite the pressure from the Egyptian side, Esperance managed to hold on and went into the break trailing 1-0 on the night but still very much in the contest.
The second half saw a completely different Esperance side emerge from the dressing room. The Tunisian outfit played with more confidence and composure, gradually shifting the momentum in their favour.
Their persistence paid off in the 68th minute when Florian Danho unleashed a powerful long-range effort that beat goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir to level the score on the night and restore Esperance’s aggregate lead.
ALSO READ: Morocco National Football Team: Squad, Fixtures, Results and Stats (updated)
With confidence growing, Esperance continued to press forward and were soon awarded a penalty after a defensive error inside Al Ahly’s box. Mohamed Amine Tougai stepped up and calmly converted from the spot to give the visitors a 2-1 lead, putting them firmly in control of the tie.
Al Ahly refused to give up and threw numbers forward in search of a comeback. Their determination paid off in the 84th minute when a corner kick caused confusion in the Esperance defence, resulting in an own goal that brought the score to 2-2 and reignited hope among the home fans.
Just when the match seemed headed for a tense finish, Esperance delivered the decisive blow. Deep into stoppage time, Hamza Jelassi rose highest inside the box to head home the winning goal in the 94th minute, completing a dramatic turnaround after earlier conceding an own goal and sealing a famous victory for the Tunisian side.
The final whistle confirmed Esperance’s place in the semi-finals, where they will face the winner between Mamelodi Sundowns and Stade Malien.
For Al Ahly, the defeat marked a painful exit from the competition despite their strong showing, while Esperance moved a step closer to continental glory with a resilient and clinical performance.
The victory not only highlighted Esperance’s fighting spirit but also sent a strong message to the remaining teams that they are serious contenders for the African crown this season.