Esperance comeback stuns Al Ahly in CAF final
Esperance have pulled off a remarkable turnaround to win the CAF Champions League and book their place in the Fifa Club World Cup in the UAE next month.
The Tunisian club, seeking a third continental crown, overcame a 3-1 deficit from the first leg against Al Ahly, defeating the Egyptian giants 3-0 at the Stade Olympique de Rades late on Friday night to secure a 4-3 aggregate win.
After a tense build-up with Esperance furious at the on and off-field treatment they received in Egypt, the match passed without incident in the 60,000-seat venue.
Saad Bguir was the unlikely hero, the midfielder scoring once in either half to draw Esperance level on aggregate – that despite the fact he started the match only because regular Franck Kom was suspended.
The hosts then made certain their win five minutes from time, when Anice Badri finished off a fine counter-attack to give Esperance a first African title since 2011.
“This is a victory that will remain in my memories,” said Bguir, who dedicated the victory to the supporters and former coach Khaled Ben Yahia, who left Esperance soon after they lost the first leg of a semi-final to Primeiro Agosto in Angola. The club refused to clarify whether he quit or was sacked.
Tearful winning manager Moine Chaabani, previously an assistant to Ben Yahia, said: “There are some people who left me in life [who] I wished were here today.”
The 37-year-old former Esperance defender then moved from the microphone without mentioning who he was referring to.
Japan’s Kashima Antlers booked their place in the UAE after drawing 0-0 in the second leg of the Asian Champions League at Persepolis of Iran yesterday, sealing a 2-0 aggregate victory.
Real Madrid, who triumphed last year, have already confirmed their return, together with Mexico’s Guadalajara and New Zealand’s Team Wellington.
UAE champions Al Ain are the host representatives, and should they come through their play-off with Wellington on December 12, they will take on Esperance in the quarter-final three days later.
The final Club World Cup slot will be taken by either Boca Juniors or River Plate, who played last night.