photo courtesy of Al Ahly SC official Twitter account
Ahly players have showed their happiness while celebrating the win of their 10th African Champions League title after beating Kaizer Chiefs of South Africa 3-0 in the final game on Saturday.
The Red Devils claimed a record-extending 10th crown, their second on the trot, when in-form striker Mohamed Sherif broke the deadlock seven minutes after the restart, with playmaker Magdi Afsha and midfielder Amr El-Sulaya adding two more goals to wrap up the win against their 10-man opponents.
El-Shahat reveals Mosimane's advice
Winger Hussein El-Shahat revealed that he and his teammates did their best during the continental tournament to win the trophy as well as pleasing the team's supporters who also prefer the Champions League title more than another any trophy.
"Africa Champions League is the most preferred trophy for Ahly supporters and we know well that they admire it so we promised to achieve their target and we succeeded on it," El-Shahat told reporters after the game.
Ahly exploited acres of space after the break to run riot and claim a thoroughly deserved win against 10-man Kaizer Chiefs as the dismissal of winger Happy Mashiane on the stroke of halftime proved a turning point.
"Mosimane [Ahly coach] asked us during the break not to hurry up the victory and to be patient especially after the dismissal of Kaizer Chiefs player," the Ahly winger added.
Moroccan Benoun achieves dream
Moroccan defender Badr Benoun, who joined Ahly last summer on a four-year deal, said he achieved his dream with Ahly after winning the 2021 African Champions League title.
"It was a dream of my life to win the African Champions League title and I succeeded to achieve it with Ahly," Benoun was quoted as saying on Ahly's official website.
"The dismissal of Kaizer Chiefs player on the stroke of halftime handed Ahly the advantage to win the game," Benoun added.
The African Champions League final game was played on in Casablanca amid warm welcome from Moroccan football fans for the Egyptian team's players.
"The Moroccan people have a good relationship with Egyptian people as they welcomed the team on their lands while playing the final game of the continental tournament," Benoun said.
"I send the Champions League trophy for Ahly supporters and Moroccan fans that supported me during the game."
Ashraf promises more trophies
Defender Ayman Ashraf revealed that winning the 2021 African Champions League title will be a motivation for the players to claim more domestic and continental trophies.
"I send the victory for all the Ahly fans and the club's management headed by Captain Mahmoud El-Khatib," Ashraf told Ahly's sports channel after the game.
"I felt the 10th Champions League title is close to be achieved after scoring the second goal by playmaker Magdi Afsha as the dismissal of Kaizer Chiefs player make the mission tough for the South African team,"
"Winning the second straight African Champions League title is a motivation for us to rise the team's number of domestic and continental trophies," the Ahly's defender added.
Afsha reveals what's next
Playmaker Mohamed 'Afsha' Magdi confirmed that they will concentrate in the coming Egyptian Premier League as it's the team's fate to fight for the title.
"We achieved a big trophy to please the team's supporters as well as writing a history with current generation of the players," Afsha said after winning the African Champions League title.
"Ahly players always fight to please the team's fans with winning continental and domestic trophies,"
Ahly will overtake Cairo rivals Zamalek on top of the league table with a two-point lead should they win their four games in hand. They will also face Enppi in the Egypt Cup round of 16.
"We still have tough mission in the Egyptian Premier League as we always play to win all trophies to please the team's supporters everywhere," the talented playmaker said.
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