Ahly's Maaloul, Zakareya named in African Champions League team of year

Ahram Online , Saturday 4 Nov 2017

Ahly
Ahly's left-back Ali Maaloul (R) and winger Moemen Zakareya in action against Etoile du Sahel in the African Champions League semi-final (Reuters)

Ahly left-back Ali Maaloul and winger Moemen Zakareya were named in the African Champions League team of the year, African governing body CAF announced on Saturday.

Both men played an instrumental role in steering Ahly to a place in the Champions League final as the club chase a record-extending ninth title and their first since 2013.

Zakareya scored three goals and provided four assists in Ahly's run to the final. His goals included a superb volley in the team's 1-1 draw at home to Wydad Casablanca in the first-leg of the competition's final last month.

Tunisian full-back Maaloul earned plaudits for his forays upfront as he scored two goals and created three others. His two goals were crucial, coming against Tunisia's Esperance in the last eight and Etoile du Sahel in the semis.

Maaloul will not be available due to injury when Ahly face Wydad in Casablanca in the final second-leg later on Saturday.

Wydad had four representatives in CAF's team of the year: Defenders Hamdi Nagguez and Youssef Rabeh as well as midfielders Brahim Nekkach and Mohamed Ounajem.

Ounajem, who provided the cross from which Wydad scored an equaliser in the final first-leg draw against Ahly, will also miss the finale because of injury.

The full CAF Champions League team:

Goalkeeper: Denis Onyango (Mamelodi Sundowns)

Defenders: Hamdi Nagguez, Youssef Rabeh (Wydad Casablanca), Farouk Chafai (USM Alger), Ali Maaloul (Ahly)

Midfielders: Brahim Nekkach, Mohamed Ounajem (Wydad Casablanca), Mohamed Amine Ben Amor (Etoile du Sahel), Moemen Zakareya (Ahly)

Forwards: Percy Tau (Mamelodi Sundowns), Taha Yassine Khenissi (Esperance)

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