Episode 23 of a great rivalry between African clubs unfolds in Tunisia on Saturday when Esperance host Egyptian visitors Al Ahly in the first leg of the CAF Champions League final.
Ahly have won 10 and drawn eight of the 22 games played in the main continental competition since their first meeting 34 years ago and are playing in a record fifth consecutive final.
But while the Cairo Red Devils are favorites to lift the trophy for a record-extending 12th time after a 12-game unbeaten march to the title decider, Esperance also impressed.
The Blood and Gold are back in the final for the first time since achieving back-to-back Champions League triumphs in 2019 and, like Ahly, boast a formidable defense.
“Every opponent in the Champions League improves their game against Ahly. We are the most successful club in Africa, so everyone wants to beat us,” Swiss coach Marcel Koller told reporters.
Ahly have won 24 African titles in four competitions, 13 more than their closest rivals, compatriots Zamalek and TP Mazembe from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Both finalists kept 11 clean sheets in 12 qualifying, group and knockout matches, with goalkeepers Mostafa Shobeir of Ahly and Amanallah Memmiche of Esperance the unexpected stars.
The son of former Ahly goalkeeper Ahmed Shobeir, Mostafa was promoted after captain Mohamed El Shenawy suffered a shoulder injury during the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations.
Shobeir rose to the occasion and has not conceded a goal in six Champions League matches, leaving Koller with a selection headache.
Does he stick with Shobeir or bounce back from El Shenawy after both were included in a 23-man squad?
– Young goalkeeper stars –
Esperance began this Champions League campaign with veteran goalkeeper Moez Ben Cherifia as team captain, but was dropped to the bench in favor of 20-year-old Memmiche.
Promoted as a teenager, Memmiche has kept a clean sheet in his last eight Champions League matches as Esperance chase a fifth title.
Where Ahly have a clear advantage over Esperance is in goals, scoring 19 goals on the way to the final compared to their rivals’ meager nine.
There were contributions from 11 players to Ahly’s total, with Hussein El Shahat (five) and Mahmoud Kahraba (four) being the top scorers.
Despite topping the Champions League scoring charts, El Shahat was an unused substitute in the 3–0 semi-final victory over Mazembe in the second leg.
South African winger Percy Tau will be hoping to add to his only goal of the African campaign this season.
One returnee to the Ahly squad is Mali midfielder Aliou Dieng, back in contention after a three-month absence due to a knee injury.
Esperance coach Miguel Cardoso says reaching the final is the “biggest achievement of my career”. Previously, he fought for clubs in France, Spain, Greece and his native Portugal.
He took over in January after two Tunisians, 2018 and 2019 Champions League winners Mouin Chaabani and Tarek Thabet, had brief spells in charge.
Yan Sasse, plucked from obscurity as Wellington Phoenix’s reserves in New Zealand, has scored three goals in the Champions League but compatriot Rodrigo Rodrigues is yet to score.
Other possible starters include Algeria defender Mohamed Tougai and winger Houssam Ghacha and Togolese midfielder Roger Aholou.
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