Al Ahly edge Wydad 2-1 in first leg of CAF Champions League final

Al Ahly, the Egyptian powerhouse, will carry a narrow 2-1 advantage into the second leg of the African Champions League final against defending champions Wydad Casablanca of Morocco. The first leg, held in Cairo on Sunday, saw Al Ahly concede a late goal, altering the dynamics of the tie.

South African international Percy Tau broke the deadlock for Al Ahly just before halftime, heading in a goal that gave them the lead. In the 59th minute, Mahmoud Kahraba doubled their advantage, putting the hosts in a commanding position. Hussein El Shahat played a crucial role in both goals, providing the assists to find Tau and Kahraba in scoring positions.

However, Wydad’s substitute Saifeddine Bouhra pulled one back in the 86th minute, scoring a potentially crucial away goal ahead of the return leg at the Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca next Sunday.

Wydad came close to equalizing earlier in the second half when full-back Yahya Attiat-Allah struck the woodwork. They also tested Al Ahly’s third-choice goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir, who stepped in due to an injury crisis at the club, with several key saves.

This year’s Champions League final returned to the traditional two-legged format after the previous three editions were decided by a single match. Last year, Wydad controversially hosted the final in Casablanca, defeating Al Ahly 2-0 after the Court of Arbitration for Sport rejected Al Ahly’s appeal to have the match postponed and moved to a neutral venue. Al Ahly holds a record 10 Champions League titles, while Wydad aims to secure their fourth title.