Etoile du Sahel ensured they were up and running in their opening match in Group B of the 2019/20 Caf Champions League by beating record winners Al Ahly 1-0 Friday night.
Nicknamed the Jewel Coast, Etoile, who played in front of their home fans at Stade Olympique de Radès in Tunisia, managed to contain Al Ahly’s Red Devils in the opening stages of the encounter.
Al Ahly suffered a blow just 13 minutes into the match when Ayman Achraf was given a straight red card after making a dangerous challenge and the visitors were reduced to 10 players.
Etoile then applied some pressure on the visitors’ defence with towering attacker Yassine Chikhaoui ready to pounce and score.
However, the score was 0-0 at the interval with 10-man Al Ahly having contained Etoile.
The Jewel Coast continued to attack after the restart and their pressure finally paid off five minutes into the second half.
Chikhaoui, the FC Zürich player, was the man who beat Egypt’s first-choice goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy in the Al Ahly goal-posts.
The Jewel Coast then stood firm at the back with experienced defender Ammar Jemal working hard in defence to stop the Red Devils in the closing stages of the game.
Ultimately, Etoile secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over record-eight time Champions League winners Al Ahly.
Watch match highlights below:
🎥 Highlights:
Etoile Du Sahel 1⃣-0⃣ Al Ahly #TotalCAFCL pic.twitter.com/lf8RCpMUid
— CAF (@CAF_Online) November 29, 2019
