Al Ahly 6-1 USGN: Defending champions qualify for Caf Champions League group stages
Al Ahly have managed to make it to the 2022 CAF Champions League group stages following a comfortable 6-1 victory over Niger’s USGN.
Despite taking an early lead through Ali Maaloul, the Red Devils were held to a shocking 1-1 draw in Niger after a late equaliser through Moumouni Diori.
On Saturday, a week later in Cairo, Al Ahly needed to win by any score to advance to the next round and they managed to do so easily after a 6-1 win.
Nine minutes is what took the ten-time champions to take the lead after the USGN keeper Saidu Hamisu couldn’t handle Mohamed Sherif’s strike inside the penalty box after a heroic interception from Akram Tawfik.
Eight minutes later, Mohamed Magdy Afsha marked his return with a goal after heading in Mahmoud Kahraba’s cross into the empty net, making it 2-0.
The visitors could have got one back through Diori, but were denied after a brilliant save from Ali Lotfi, before Mohamed Sherif missed a one-on-one chance with the Nigerien goalkeeper.
Against the run of play, USGN pulled one back in the 35th minute through Issoufou Hinsa with a spectacular finish into the right top corner.
The hosts kept on wasting the chances in the second-half and had to wait until the 57th minute to regain their two-goal lead when Afsha received a ball from Amr El-Sulya before dribbling past the defender with a skillful turn and putting the ball into the net.
Al Ahly had received a massive blow after the goal as Walid Soliman was brought off on a stretcher after an altercation with the USGN keeper, with Hussein El-Shahat replacing him.
El-Shahat needed just one touch to leave his mark on the game after Mahmoud Kahraba put him through on goal, before the winger put the keeper on the floor with a smart faint and easily tapped the ball in the net.
Five minutes later, Al Ahly increased their lead to five through MOTM Mahmoud Kahraba who beat Hamisu from a long-range with a powerful low shot.
Substitute Hamdi Fathi sealed the victory with a late sixth goal from another screamer and almost made it seven, but they eventually settled for the 6-1 victory.
Al Ahly have now sealed their place in the CAF Champions League group-stages, joining compatriots and rivals Zamalek SC, who earlier progressed with an aggregate 5-0 victory over Tusker of Kenya.
