Defending champions Ahly of Egypt clinched their spot in the Champions League group stage following another resounding 3-0 victory over Kenya’s Gor Mahia in the second leg of the round of 32 on Saturday in Cairo.

Ahly, who have won the tournament a record 12 times, had started their continental campaign with a 3-0 win over Gor Mahia at the Nyayo National Stadium in Kenya a week prior, thus sealing a comprehensive 6-0 aggregate triumph.

In Cairo, defender Rami Rabia broke the deadlock just 20 minutes into the match with a header from close range.

Palestinian striker Wessam Abu Ali extended Ahly’s lead in the 54th minute.

Substitute winger Taher Mohamed Taher scored the third goal for Ahly with a powerful strike in injury time.

Following the match, Ahly were given a belated celebration for winning the league title in a ceremony hosted by the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) at Cairo International Stadium.

It was Ahly’s record-extending 44th Egyptian Premier League title, clinched with two games to spare in the 2024 season which ended just last month.

Owing to a congested schedule, the EFA had been forced to postpone the trophy presentation.

The league triumph marked the end of a memorable season for Ahly during which they also won the Egyptian Super Cup and the Champions League and claimed a bronze medal in the FIFA Club World Cup, all under the helm of Swiss coach Marcel Koller.

By dint of Ahly winning the African Champions League and Zamalek the Confederation Cup, Ahly and crosstown rivals Zamalek will clash in the African Super Cup in Saudi Arabia on 27 September.

Zamalek have clinched the Super Cup title four times while Ahly holds a record eight such trophies.

Egyptian Premier League runners-up Pyramids FC secured their spot in the Champions League group stage following a 3-1 victory over Rwanda’s APR FC in the second leg of the round of 32 on Saturday.

Pyramids kicked off their continental journey with a first leg 1-1 draw in Rwanda a week before, ultimately claiming a 4-2 aggregate win.

Dauda Seidu gave visitors APR an early lead just 11 minutes into the match with a powerful strike from outside the box.

Moroccan right-back Mohamed Chibi levelled the score for Pyramids just before halftime.

In the 67th minute, Congolese striker Fiston Mayele netted the second goal for Pyramids while Karim Hafez sealed the victory with a goal in injury time.

Zamalek cruised past Kenya Police FC to secure their place in the group stage of the Confederation Cup, claiming a 2-1 victory in Cairo on Friday night and a comfortable 3-1 win on aggregate.

The Egyptian side had entered the second leg with a slim 1-0 advantage.

On Friday, Zamalek took control in the second half. Ahmed “Zizo” Sayed broke the deadlock in the 56th minute, expertly volleying a cross past goalkeeper Patrick Matasi to put the White Knights ahead.

Just four minutes later, the hosts doubled their lead in fortuitous circumstances. A miscommunication between Police defender Moussa Mohamed and Matasi allowed Nasser Maher to pounce on the loose ball and slot it into the net, extending Zamalek’s aggregate lead to 3-0.

Kenya Police briefly clawed their way back into the contest when Jesse Were headed in from a well-placed free-kick in the 65th minute, reducing the deficit to 2-1.

Egyptian side Masri secured their spot in the Confederation Cup group stage by defeating Al-Hilal of Libya 5-3 on penalties on Sunday in Alexandria’s Borg Al-Arab Stadium. Masri had won the game 3-2, the exact result they lost by in the first leg played in Libya a week earlier.

Salah Mohsen, who had scored twice in the first leg in Libya, repeated the feat by netting a brace in Alexandria (19th and 39th minute). Tunisian forward Fakhreddin bin Youssef adding a crucial third goal six minutes from time.

Masri defender Baher Al-Mohammadi opened the scoring for the visitors in the 15th minute following an own goal, while Willy Onana dramatically equalised in injury time, forcing the game into a penalty shootout.

During the penalty shootout, Masri goalkeeper Mahmoud Gad made a crucial save against the Libyan side, propelling his team into the group stage of the competition along with Zamalek.

The draws for the two African football club tournaments, the biggest on the continent, will be held on 7 October.

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* A version of this article appears in print in the 26 September, 2024 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly