Mohamed Amine Tougai scored from the penalty spot in the 73rd minute to give the hosts the advantage ahead of the return leg in Cairo on Saturday.

Ahly dominated possession early on but struggled to threaten Esperance’s defence, with both sides cautious and creating few clear chances.

The first real opportunity came in the 20th minute when Mahmoud Trezeguet fired a powerful shot from outside the area, but the Esperance goalkeeper parried it away.

Emam Ashour came close a minute before the break with a powerful effort from inside the box that sailed over the crossbar.

Esperance responded quickly on the counter-attack as striker Florian Danho struck toward goal, but Ahly goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir made the save to ensure the first half ended goalless.

The hosts started the second half on the front foot, and Brazilian winger Yan Sasse missed a clear chance five minutes after the restart when he went one-on-one with Shobeir, who blocked the effort.

Ahly responded through Achraf Bencharki, whose powerful shot from outside the area was saved.

The rebound fell to Ahmed Sayed Zizo, who sent a cross into the box, but Ashour’s header was again stopped by the Esperance goalkeeper.

Esperance were awarded a penalty in the 72nd minute after the Senegalese referee reviewed a possible handball by defender Mohamed Hany using VAR. Tougai converted from the spot to put his side ahead.

Ahly coach Jess Thorup introduced Marwan Attia, Hussein El Shahat and Marwan Othman from the bench in search of an equaliser.

Ahly pushed forward late on, but Mohamed Hany missed a clear chance three minutes before the final whistle when his shot from inside the area went wide of the right post.

Esperance threatened on the counter in the closing stages, with substitutes Youssef Msakni and Kouceila Boualia both missing chances to extend the lead.

(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)

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