Front Page
Politics
Economy
International
Sports
Society
Culture
Videos
Newspapers
Ahram Online
Al-Ahram Weekly
Albawaba
Almasry Alyoum
Amwal Al Ghad
Arab News Agency
Bikya Masr
Daily News Egypt
FilGoal
The Egyptian Gazette
Youm7
Subject
Author
Region
f
t
مصرس
BRICS Skate Cup: Skateboarders from Egypt, 22 nations gather in Russia
Egypt gets initial approval for $820m IMF loan disbursement
Fujifilm, Egypt's UPA Sign MoU to Advance Healthcare Training and Technology at Africa Health ExCon
Pharaohs Edge Out Burkina Faso in World Cup qualifiers Thriller
Lagarde's speech following ECB rate cuts
Russian inflation to decline in late '24 – finance minister
US, 13 allies to sign Indo-Pacific economic agreements
Acceleration needed in global energy transition – experts
Sri Lanka grants Starlink preliminary approval for internet services
HDB included in Brand Finance's top 200 brands in Africa for 2024
MSMEDA aims to integrate environmental dimensions in SMEs to align with national green economy initiatives
China-Egypt relationship remains strong, enduring: Chinese ambassador
Egypt, Namibia foster health sector cooperation
Palestinian resistance movements to respond positively to any ceasefire agreement in Gaza: Haniyeh
Egypt's EDA, Zambia sign collaboration pact
Managing mental health should be about more than mind
Egypt, Africa CDC discuss cooperation in health sector
Sudanese Army, RSF militia clash in El Fasher, 85 civilians killed
Madinaty Sports Club hosts successful 4th Qadya MMA Championship
Amwal Al Ghad Awards 2024 announces Entrepreneurs of the Year
Egyptian President asks Madbouly to form new government, outlines priorities
Egypt's President assigns Madbouly to form new government
Egypt and Tanzania discuss water cooperation
Grand Egyptian Museum opening: Madbouly reviews final preparations
Madinaty's inaugural Skydiving event boosts sports tourism appeal
Tunisia's President Saied reshuffles cabinet amidst political tension
Instagram Celebrates African Women in 'Made by Africa, Loved by the World' 2024 Campaign
Egypt to build 58 hospitals by '25
Swiss freeze on Russian assets dwindles to $6.36b in '23
Egyptian public, private sectors off on Apr 25 marking Sinai Liberation
Debt swaps could unlock $100b for climate action
Financial literacy becomes extremely important – EGX official
Euro area annual inflation up to 2.9% – Eurostat
BYD، Brazil's Sigma Lithium JV likely
UNESCO celebrates World Arabic Language Day
Motaz Azaiza mural in Manchester tribute to Palestinian journalists
Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban
It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game
Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights
Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines
Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19
Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers
Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled
We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga
Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June
Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds
Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go
Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform
Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.
OK
The final move
Abeer Anwar
Published in
Al-Ahram Weekly
on 22 - 11 - 2001
Ahli and Sundowns will meet in the final of the African Champions League after overturning their opponents in away games. Abeer Anwar reports on the heroics far from home
A stroke of genius from substitute Said Abdel-Hafiz in
Tunis
squeezed Ahli into the African Champions League final this weekend. Abdel-Hafiz cancelled an early Adailton Perreira strike for
Tunisian
outfit Esperance with a timely 77th-minute goal and a 1-1 draw took the
Cairo
Red Devils through on away goals after a scoreless first leg.
The Egyptian side will now face South African club Sundowns who were taken to a penalty shootout by Angolan hosts Petro Atletico on Sunday before clinching a place in the final.
A record $1 million first prize will be at stake when the clubs clash at Loftus Versfeld in
Pretoria
over the weekend of 7-9 December and at
Cairo
Stadium two weeks later.
It is Sundowns' first appearance in the showpiece of the major Pan-African club championship, which Ahli won in 1982 and 1987 and were runners-up to Asante Kotoko of
Ghana
in 1983.
While the outcome in
Tunis
was a shock as home advantage was expected to tell in favour of 1999 and 2000 runners-up Esperance, Ahli had more possession during the two-match North African showdown.
The Egyptians also had little luck, hitting the woodwork twice in the first leg and having several seemingly certain goals denied by the brilliance of
Tunisian
goalkeeper Mohamed Zouabi in the same match.
Ironically, Zouabi did not have a serious save to make throughout the second leg played in a highly-charged atmosphere before a capacity 45,000 crowd at the Al- Menzah Stadium. But when he strayed off his line as the match drifted into the closing stages, Abdel-Hafiz pounced on a timid headed clearance and lobbed the ball into the net with sublime skill.
Panic-stricken Esperance responded with an attacking frenzy and Perreira struck a shot so hard that outstanding Ahli goalkeeper Essam El-Hadari needed two attempts before clutching the ball.
Another Esperance effort flew over and an injury-time free kick from Brazilian Reinaldo Aliluia was pushed away brilliantly for a corner by El-Hadari.
"I am very confident that Ahli will win the final," Ahli's Portuguese coach Manuel Jose said. "The players did their best and I pushed Abdel-Hafiz in the end because he was not fit to start ."
The victory gave Ahli a chance of winning one of the three major African club tournaments after Zamalek and Ismaili bowed out of the Cup Winners Cup earlier this year.
Leading 2-0 from the first leg in
Pretoria
two weeks ago, Sundowns lost by the same score at the Citadela Stadium only to emerge 5-3 winners on penalties and book a December showdown with Ahli.
Boastful
Romania
-born coach Ted Dumitru said before the second leg in the sun-drenched Angolan capital that Sundowns' defenders and midfielders were the best organised on the continent.
"Petro have a slow, clumsy defence that will have to open up as they push forward in search of goals. This will leave gaps for my speedy strikers," the coach added without a hint of modesty.
But the match did not go according to plan for the South Africans, who were pipped on goal difference by Esperance for a place in the Champions League final last year.
The gaps they envisaged in the absence of suspended Petro defensive anchor Carlos 'Didi' Viegas did not materialise and two goals by Democratic Republic of
Congo
midfielder Kapela Mbiyavanga placed Petro in the driving seat.
An anonymous figure in the first leg, Mbiyavanga raised his goal tally to eight this year in the Champions League by striking after 25 and 48 minutes, but the third goal which would have taken them through eluded Petro.
When former Angolan international Fernando 'Zico' Francisco failed to convert the first kick of the shootout, Sundowns gained a psychological advantage and they converted their five kicks, much to the relief of Dumitru.
Recommend this page
© Copyright Al-Ahram Weekly. All rights reserved
Send a letter to the Editor
Clic
here
to read the story from its source.
Related stories
A hole dug deep
Good and not so good
Close to glory
Away we win
Is it enough?
Report inappropriate advertisement