USGN hold Al Ahly to draw at Caf Champions League opening game
Caf Champions League title-holders Al Ahly were held to an away draw against Union Sportive de la Gendarmerie Nationale of Niger in the first leg of the round of 32.
The game had a slow start as both teams avoided risky plays, and the chances of both sides weren’t threatening.
In the 17th minute of the first half, Mohamed Sherif won Al Ahly a valuable penalty kick when the hosts’ goalkeeper violently tackled him.
The penalty kick was successfully executed by Tunisian international Ali Maaloul who broke the deadlock from the spot.
After the game, and despite USGN being on the losing side, Al Ahly started dominating the game, but with no real goal-scoring chances, for the first half to end 1-0.
After the half-time break, Niger representatives started showing their teeth as they began trying to make their return to the game.
In the 64th minute, USGN’s forward Djibrilla Diori came face to face with Ali Lotfi after a skillful solo run but his shot hit the crossbar.
The hosts didn’t stop there, and ten minutes later, they successfully equalized through a header follow-up that found its way to Al Ahly’s nets.
The Reds then started to look for the winning goal but it was futile as all their chances were stopped by the Nigerien defenses for the game to end in a 1-1 draw.
Despite the draw, Al Ahly still have the advantage as the two teams will be clashing in Egypt in the second leg on the 23rd of October.
