Wydad s Moroccan defender Ayoub el-Amloud (C-L) and Ahly s Egyptian midfielder Hussein el-Shahat (C-R) vie for the ball during the first-leg final football match of the CAF Champions League, between Egypt s Al-Ahly and Morocco s Wydad AC, at Cairo International Stadium on June 4, 2023. AFP
Full time: Ahly 2-1 Wydad
Scorers: Percy Tau 45+3, Mahmoud Kahraba 59 / Saif Edin Bouhara 85
Match report
Yellow cards
Hany (Ahly)
El Amloud (Wydad)
Attiat Allah (Wydad)
Lineups:
Ahly: Mostafa Shobeir - Ali Maaloul, Mohamed Hany, Mohamed Abdel-Moneim, Yasser Ibrahim - Aliou Dieng, Amr El Sulaya, Marwan Atteya - Hussein El Shahat (Ahmed Abdel-Kader 86), Percy Tau, Mahmoud 'Kahraba' Abdel-Moneim (Mohamed Sherif 86)
Wydad: Youssef El Motie - Arsène Zola, Amine Farhane, Jalal Daoudi, Yahia Attiyat Allah - Ayoub El Amloud, Yahia Jabrane, Reda Jaadi, Aymane El Hassouni (Mohamed Ounajem 72); Zouhair El Moutaraji (Seif Edin Bouhra 82), Bouly Junior Sambou.
90+8 Full time
90+5 Ahly press forward to get the third.
90+2' Tau sends a curler that goes just over the bar.
90' Ref shows 8 minutes of injury time.
85' Bouhara collects the rebound and scores from close range.
85' GOOAAL FOR WYDAD !
76' Shobeir makes another brilliant save to deny Ounajem.
71' A CHANCE FOR AHLY ! Kahraba has an attempt from inside the box but the keeper makes a brilliant save to deny it.
68' Attiat Allah's shot is denied by the post.
65' Ahly seem more confident after the goal and push forward now to kill the tie.
59' El Shahat latches onto a long ball from Hany and passes the ball to Kahraba who fires the second from close range.
59' GOOOAAAL FOR AHLY !!
55' El Hassouni's curler goes inches next to the post.
51' Kahraba has an attempt on target but the keeper saves it.
50' Wydad are pressing forward in an attempt to grab the equalizer.
48' El Moutaraji's attempt hits the side netting.
46' The second half is underway
Half time
45+6 Shobeir makes another save to block El Moutaraji's free kick
45+3 Percy Tau meets an excellent cross from El Shahat at the far post with a powerful header.
45+3 GOOOAAAL FOR AHLY !
45' Referee shows 5 minutes of injury time.
42' Yellow card for El Amloud.
40' WHAT A SAVE ! Shobeir makes a great save to deny El Hassouni from close range.
34' Another free kick for Wydad but it goes into the hands of Shobeir.
30' Decision is reversed after VAR review.
28' PENALTY FOR AHLY !
23' Free kick to Wydad but it's easily cleared by Ahly's defence.
18' WHAT A CHANCE ! Kahraba intercepts the ball behind the defence but his poor effort is blocked by the keeper.
16' El Shahat sends a precise through ball to Dieng but he fails to control it and it goes into the hands of the keeper.
12' Tau sends a low cross in the box but the keeper intercepts it.
10' Ahly start strong and dominate possession in the opening stages.
5' A first chance for Ahly but Dieng's attempts is deflected into the corner.
0' Match is underway
20:00 Midfielder Hamdi Fathy has been restored in the lineup after also recovering from a minor injury.
19:55 Ahly's third-choice keeper Mostafa Shobeir will start the game as keepers Mohamed El Sehnnawy and Ali Lotfi have just recovered from muscle injuries.
17:00 Ahly fans flock to Cairo stadium hours before kick off.
15:30 Despite their impressive victory over the tournament favorites, Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa, in the semifinals, Wydad coach Sven Vandenbroeck has downplayed his team's chances against Ahly in the final.
14:00 The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has published a video which includes reactions from both teams, as well as showcasing historical sites in Egypt that fans can visit before the game kicks off.
13:00 With only one hour left until the Cairo International Stadium's doors open for fans, up to 50,000 supporters will be allowed to attend the CAF Champions League final.
12:30 Ahly will have to do without their first-choice goalkeeper and captain, Mohamed El-Shennawy, due to a lingering muscle injury. As a result, the third-choice goalkeeper, Mostafa Shobeir, is expected to step in as El-Shennawy's replacement. Second-choice goalkeeper, Ali Lotfi has also recently recovered from a muscle strain, but he will not be expected to start in the final..
11:30 Ahly are determined to secure their record-extending 11th title as they take on defending Champions Wydad of Morocco in the Champions League final on Sunday. The match is a rematch of last year's final, which was a showdown of Africa's most prestigious club competition.
Venue: Cairo International stadium
Referee: Motaz Ibrahim (Libya)
Check the match preview HERE
The second leg will be played at Stade Mohamed V in Casablanca next week.
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