After conceding a late goal in the first leg on Sunday in Cairo, Egyptian powerhouse Al Ahly will carry a razor-thin 2-1 lead over holders Wydad Athletic Club of Morocco into next weekend’s second leg of the 2022/23 Caf Champions League final.
Just before halftime, South African international Percy Tau gave Al Ahly the lead with a header, and Mahmoud Kahraba extended the advantage in the 59th to put the hosts in a commanding position.
Hussein El Shahat produced vital passes to find Tau in open space at the back post and then found Kahraba for a close-range finish on both goals.
However, Wydad substitute Saifeddine Bouhra equalized in the 86th minute for what may be a crucial away goal before the return game at the Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca next Sunday.
Wydad also hit the crossbar in the second half through fullback Yahya Attiat-Allah and forced several vital saves from Al Ahly’s third-choice goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir, who was catapulted into the starting line-up due to an injury crisis at the club.
After being decided by a single match in the previous three seasons, the Caf Champions League final reverted to a two-leg, home-and-away format this year.
Wydad defeated Al Ahly 2-0 in last year’s final, which was controversially held in Casablanca after the Confederation of African Football said that Morocco was the sole bidder, with Senegal withdrawing their candidacy.
After their appeal to the Swiss-based Court of Arbitration for Sport was denied, Ahly lost their effort to have the match postponed and shifted to a neutral ground.
Al Ahly has won a record ten Champions League championships, while Wydad is striving for a fourth.
