Late drama as Ashour sends Al Ahly to CAF semi-finals

by Staff Reporter

Tuesday Apr 08, 2025. 23:13

Al Ahly booked their ticket to the CAF Champions League semi-finals after grinding out a 1-0 victory (2-0 on aggregate) against a resilient Al Hilal side at the Cheikha Ould Boïdiya Stadium on Tuesday evening.

The first half was a cagey affair, with Al Hilal effectively neutralising Al Ahly’s attacking threats through disciplined defending and compact midfield play. As the half wore on, the home side began to enjoy more possession, though clear-cut chances remained scarce.

Al Ahly’s Achraf Bencharki looked dangerous on the wing, but the Al Hilal defence did well to contain him. Ahmed M’Bareck nearly broke the deadlock for Al Hilal towards the end of the first half, but his effort was thwarted by a superb save from Al Ahly goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy, ensuring the teams went into the break goalless.

The second half saw Al Hilal increase the pressure, pushing forward in search of an opener and forcing El Shenawy into several key saves. The Egyptian champions, however, absorbed the pressure and demonstrated their clinical edge in the 80th minute.

A well-worked move saw Taher Mohamed slip a pass through to Emam Ashour, who calmly slotted the ball past Issa Fofana to give Al Ahly the lead.

With the aggregate score now 2-0 in their favour and just ten minutes remaining, Al Ahly expertly managed the game, frustrating Al Hilal’s attempts to find a way back into the tie.

The final whistle confirmed Al Ahly’s progression to the semi-finals, setting the stage for another exciting chapter in their quest for continental glory.

Al Hilal (0) 0

Al Ahly (0) 1 (Ashour 80’)

Al Hilal: I. Fofana, S. Ehebelo, M. Saeed Ahmed, O. Diouf, K. Diaw, E. Kane, S. Adel (Y. Boshara 85’), A. Coulibaly (E. Aime Tendeng 58’), A. Raouf (G. Fofana 88’), J. Girumugisha (Y. Muzammil 85’), A. M’Bareck

Al Ahly: M. El Shenawy, Y. Attiyat Allah, R. Rabia, A. Dari, M. Hany, M. Attia, A. Tawfik, A. Bencharki (K. El Debes 84’), N. Gradisar (M. El Hadad 84’), E. Ashour (A. Hashem 85’), W. Abou Ali (T. Mohamed 61’)