REVEALED: Al Ahly eyeing Mamelodi Sundowns clash in the CAF Champions League, revenge on the card?
Africa and Egyptian giants Al Ahly have been one of the most decorated football clubs not only in Egypt and Africa football landscapes but in the world at large.
They have a total of 20 major titles within the confinement of Africa football, with 8 CAF Champions League silver wares-making them the most successful club in the Champions League. They hold a record of 4 Cup Winners Cup and 6 CAF Super Cup trophies, which is simple great for Ahly.
But the way the Egyptian gaints have taken storm of CAF Champions League in the last 15 years has been astonishing and remarkable, winning 5 glories out of 8 finals, and most of their title winning has been in back to back fashion.
Al Ahly have failed to win the Champions League close to 6 years, when they last beat Orlando Pirates to lift the 2013 title. Afterwards, the closest Al Ahly have come to winning the title is 2017, losing the final on 2-1 aggregate to Wydad Athletic Club.
A year later, the Eight times CAF Champions League winners were again humiliated 4-3 on aggregate by Esperance in the final of the 2018 CAF Champions League.
In as much the 2017 and 2018 Champions League campaigns were from the view point of Al Ahly successful, the year after (2019) was very heart-breaking for the Red Devils as they suffered one of their heaviest defeats in the competition.
Last season, Ahly suffered a 5-0 defeat in the hands of South African power house Mamelodi Sundowns at the Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium in the quarter-finals of the Champions League before claiming a slim 1-0 win in the return leg.
It has been revealed by Al Ahly keeper, Mohamed El Shenawy who was in post when his team were been white-washed by Sundowns, that the Red Devils is hoping for a rematch against the ABSA Premier side.
It appeared that the entire playing body of Al Ahly would welcome a fixture between the two sides in the ongoing CAF Champions League. In an interview after serving his club side, 30 year old El Shenawy highlighted that;
“I did not wish on my own to face Sundowns, but all the players have the same desire”.
“It was not acceptable to go out of the Champions League like this, and we hope that this season will be better”, he added.
In Ahly’s nightmare game against Sundowns, Themba Zwane open the scoring 14 minutes into the game, Wayne Arendse doubled for Sundowns 10 minutes later before Richardo Nascimento converted 47’ minute penalty to send Sundowns 3-0 before the 50’ minute mark.
Gaston Sirino and Phakamani added on 62’ and 83’ respectively to make the game 5-0 at the end of the 90’ minutes.
The two sides can only meet in the semi final of this term’s Champions League.
Al Ahly begin their CAF Champions League group stage campaign against Etoile du Sahle in Tunisia on the 29th day of this month.
