The 2024 CAF Champions League match between Al Ahly and Esperance is a rematch of their first leg, which ended in a goalless draw in Tunisia. As the second leg approaches in Cairo on Saturday, both teams are tied on aggregate.
Al Ahly is looking to win back-to-back titles for the fourth time in their history after winning in 2005 and 2006, 2012 and 2013, and 2020 and 2021. On the other hand, Esperance has only achieved this feat once in 2018 and 2019.
This final marks the 15th consecutive year since 2010 that at least one north African club has been involved. Egypt leads the way with 17 Champions League victories, while Tunisia follows closely behind with six.
In previous matches, Al Ahly has hosted Esperance a total of 11 times across various stages of the Champions League, winning five games and drawing six. Their most recent encounter was during the semi-final second leg of the 2023 season, where they secured a narrow victory over Esperance with a goal by Hussein el Shahat.
When it comes to goal-scoring statistics, Al Ahly has scored an impressive total of 19 goals in just thirteen matches this season, thanks to top scorers like El Shahat and Mahmoud Kahraba. Esperance has struggled to keep up, managing only nine goals so far this season, with Brazilian player Yan Sasse being their leading scorer with three goals.
If Al Ahly manages to remain unbeaten throughout the tournament after Saturday’s match, they will tie the record set by their own team from the year 2005, which included some of Egypt’s greatest players such as Essam el Hadary, Wael Gomaa, Mohamed Aboutrika
