Full time: Ahly 2-1 Zamalek
Scorers: Amr El-Sulaya 5, Afsha 86/ Shikabala 31


The referee blows his final whistle, Ahly win a record-extending ninth Champions League title with a remarkable 2-1 victory over Zamalek. Thanks for following our live updates!


90+4' Ahly keeper El-Shennawi is booked for wasting time.

90+3' Zamalek midfielder Sassi receives a yellow card for dissent.

90+1' Five minutes added as stoppage time.

90' Both sides make late substitutions. Ahly defender Rami Rabia replaces Afsha and Zamalek introduce striker Omar El-Said.

90' Ahly are very close to an elusive Champions League crown!

86' Afsha scores what could be a decisive goal with an unstoppable volley, a brilliant screamer!

86'GOOOOOOOOOAL FOR AHLY!!!

84' A cross from Mohamed Hani is collected by Zamalek keeper Mohamed Abou-Gabal. Both sides look tired in the final minutes.

80' Ahly go close with a touched-on free kick! Afsha's shot from distance narrowly misses the target.

76' Geraldo's low cross finds Ahly's off-form striker Mohsen but he fails to control it and it goes out for a goal kick!

76' We are heading for the crucial stage of the game. Can any team settle the tie in the remaining 15 minutes?

74' Bencharki appeals for a penalty after falling down in the area but the referee signals for a free kick for Ahly's defender.

73' Ahly's El-Sulaya receives the first yellow card of the game for a foul on Zizo, who holds off a couple of challengers.

69' Sassi rises to head a free kick from Zizo wide of the post. It's now an evenly-balanced affair.

67' Ahly make their first substitution. Angolan winger Geraldo replaces Ajayi, who is also injured.

65' What a chance for Zamalek! A long-range rocket from Zizo rattles the post.

61' Eslam Gaber is apparently still feeling dizzy after a challenge with his own goalkeeper. Zamalek do not have any other full-backs on the bench.

60' Ahly now regain their control of the game as Zamalek are pegged back.

55' Zamalek make a substitution. Shikabala, who looks to have sustained an injury, makes way for Congolese winger Kabongo Kasongo.

54' What a chance for Ahly!! Hussein El-Shahat fires against the post with the goal gaping after a square pass from Maaloul. Ahly create a golden chance against the run of play.


50' Another chance for Zamalek! Zizo darts down the left and rushes into the area but his denied by a last-ditch interception.

50' What a chance for Zamalek! Mostafa Mohamed is released by a deft through pass from Ferjani Sassi to break clear but his tame curling shot is collected by El-Shennawi.

49' Zamalek start from where they left off in the first half. Will Ahly be able to restore their balance?

48' Zamalek push forward in the early stages of the second half.

The second half is underway

The referee blows his halftime whistle

45'1 Hussein El-Shahat once again skips past Eslam Gaber on the left and rushes to the byline. His cross finds Marwan Mohsen but his teame header is easily collected by the keeper.

45' One minute to be added as stoppage time.

40' Zamalek are much more aggressive in midfield, winning most of the duels.

38' A deflected shot by Tarek Hamed goes into the hands of Ahly keeper Mohamed El-Shennawi.

36' Zamalek have the upper hand as Ahly are still trying to restore their balance.

33' Back on level terms now, what an exciting final at Cairo Stadium!

31' Shikabala equalises after a brilliant solo effort! Collecting the ball on the right, he sneaks between two challengers and side-steps Amr El-Sulaya on the edge of the area before finding the far top scorner with an unstoppable curling effort.

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31'GOOOOOOOOOAL FOR ZAMALEK!!!

30' Bencharki shoots across the face of the goal as the ball goes out for a goal kick.

29' Repeated Zamalek crosses are cleared by the Ahly backline.

26' A Shikabala cross is handled by El-Shennawi as Mostafa Mohamed lurks behind him.

25' Zamalek have the better possession now but Ahly's compact defence is holding firm.

22' A harmless header from Mahmoud Alaa is easily collected by Ahly keeper El-Shennawi.

20' Zamalek step up a gear as they push forward in search of an equaliser.

17' Bencharki shoots from distance but his effort goes just wide of the post.

16' Zamalek create their first real chance! A headed defensive clearance falls to Bencharki on the edge of the area but his bouncing shot goes over the bar.

15' Zamalek's Shikabala tries his luck from distance but his shot goes straight into the hands of keeper Mohamed El-Shennawi.

13' Zamalek are disjointed as Ahly move the ball around smoothly.

12' Junior Ajayi could have scored the second! He chests the ball unmarked in the area but he is too slow as Zamalek's retreating defenders close him down.

11' Ahly are exposing the gaps behind Eslam Gaber, who is not a natural left-back.

10' Ahly look more composed in the first 10 minutes.

8' Zamalek are looking for a quick response but they are yet to create any danger.

7' Ahly make an impressive start to the game!

5' Amr El-Sulaya ghosts behind Zamalek's markers to head home an inswinging corner from Ali Maaloul as Ahly grab an early lead.

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5' GOOOOOOOOOAL FOR AHLY!!!

5' What a chance for Ahly!! A long ball eludes Zamalek's hesitant left-back Eslam Gaber and finds Hussein El-Shahat who breaks clear, but his angled effort is blocked by keeper Mohamed Abou-Gabal.

2' In Ahly's first foray forward, Ali Maaloul's long ball goes over the Zamalek defence and to lone striker Marwan Mohsen, who poorly controls it. He still gathers the ball and pulls it back into the area but the Zamalek defence clears it.

The match is underway


Starting line-ups:

Zamalek: Mohamed Abou-Gabal, Ahmed Eid, Mahmoud Alaa, Mohamed Abdel-Ghani, Eslam Gaber, Tarek Hamed, Ferjani Sassi, Ahmed Zizo, Mahmoud Shikabala, Achraf Bencharki, Mostafa Mohamed

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Ahly: Mohamed El-Shennawi, Mohamed Hani, Yasser Ibrahim, Ayman Ashraf, Ali Maaloul, Hamdi Fathi, Amr El-Sulaya, Hussein El-Shahat, Magdi Afsha, Junior Ajayi, Marwan Mohsen

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20:05 There are no surprises in Ahly's starting line-up. South African boss Mosimane sticks to his usual line-up, with defensive midfielder Hamdi Fathi being the only change as he replaces Malian midfielder Aliou Dieng.

20:00 Zamalek coach Pacheco introduces Eslam Gaber as a left-back as the versatile midfielder replaces Abdallah Gomaa. Experienced winger Mahmoud Shikabala, who has played a bit-part role this season, replaces Youssef Ibrahim in the number 10 position.

19:45 Take a look at a quick comparison between the main schemers of both teams: Zamalek's Bencharki and Ahly's Afsha.

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19:00 Two hours remaining before kick-off and the starting line-ups are expected to be released shortly. Will there be any surprise in the selections of both teams?

18:15 Ahly defeated Zamalek 4-2 the last time they met in the African Champions League -- a group-stage game in 2013. Ahly went on to win the title for a record-extending eighth time.


18:00 A general view of the Cairo Stadium, three hours before the anticipated clash gets underway. Photo provided by CAF.

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17:30 Zamalek coach Pacheco has some questions to answer tonight. Who will occupy the left-back position after Abdallah Gomaa was ruled out due to COVID-19? Who will replace Youssef Ibrahim in a deep-lying forward position?

17:00 Ahly vs. Zamalek head to head games in African Champions League

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16:30The anticipated game will be played behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic, African governing body CAF and the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) said in a joint statement.

15:00Ahly right back Mohamed Hani has to double his efforts during the game to come back from the 3-1 loss to Zamalek last August, as Zamalek's forward Achraf Bencharki greatly outclassed him. The Moroccan enjoyed one of his best games in Zamalek, scoring once and assisting another player, leaving Hani trailing behind him.

14:00The game is expected to witness some key battles as Ahly's veteran defender will face a big challenge to suspend Zamalek striker Mostafa Mohamed, who has been in stellar form this season, scoring 19 goals including 8 in the Champions League.

The midfield battle between Ahly and Zamalek will be one of contrasting styles. The Reds are relying on the fluidity and harmony of their game, while their rivals rely on the individual prowess of Tunisian maestro Ferjani Sassi, and the defensive strength of Tarek Hamed with his trademark ability to break the attacks.

13:00 Check the two teams probable lineup:

Ahly:Mohamed El-Shennawi - Mohamed Hani, Ayman Ashraf, Rami Rabia, Ali Maaloul - Amr El-Sulaya, Hamdi Fathi, Hussein El-Shahat, Mohamed "Afsha" Magdi, Junior Ajayi, Marwan mohsen
Zamalek:Mohamed Abou Gabal - Eslam Gaber, Mohamed Abdel-Ghani, Mahmoud Alaa, Ahmed Eid - Tarek Hamed, Ferjani Sassi, Achraf Bencharki, Mohamed Ounajem, Ahmed "Zizo" Sayed, Mostafa Mohamed.

12:00 The two sides will miss number of key players during the game after contracting with COVID-19. Zamalek will lose the services of rock-solid defender Mahmoud El-Wensh, left back Abdallah Gomaa and Deep-lying forward Youssef Ibrahim while Ahly will do without solid midfielder Malian Aliou Dieng, talented midfielder Saleh Gomaa and veteran winger Walid Soliman.

11:30 It's a match like no other as perennial Cairo rivals Ahly and Zamalek clash for Africa's top prize on Friday, with a Champions League trophy that both crave so much at stake in the first ever final to feature teams from the same country.


Final preparations 🏃@AlAhly are fully set & ready for the much anticipated #TotalCAFCL final! 💪 pic.twitter.com/90lZp6AdPv
— #TotalCAFCL (@CAF_Online) November 26, 2020


Drills done & plans prepared 😎@ZSCOfficial's final touches ahead of the #TotalCAFCL final clash! ⚽ pic.twitter.com/r6EVv4hkj2
— #TotalCAFCL (@CAF_Online) November 26, 2020

Venue: Cairo’s international stadium

Referee: Mustapha Ghorbal (Algeria)

Check the match preview here

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