CAIRO — Egyptian giants Al-Ahly secured the top spot in Group D of the CAF Champions League after triumphing over Young Africans of Tanzania with a 1-0 win at Cairo International Stadium.
The Defending champions finished the six-round mini-league phase unbeaten with 12 points, Young Africans and Chabab Belouizdad of Algeria secured eight each and Medeama of Ghana four.
Young Africans will join Ahly in the quarter-finals having pipped Belouizdad on a head-to-head tie-breaker. The Tanzanians won 4-0 at home and lost 3-0 away to the Algerians.
The Egyptian giants will be making a 21st appearance in the Champions League knockout phase since the name and format of the competition were changed in 1997.
The Tanzanian side has never previously gone beyond the group stage, and exceeded expectations by doing so at the expense of Belouizdad, quarter-finalists in the past three editions.
Winger Hussein el-Shahat became the leading CAF Champions League scorer this season, after netting in a 1-0 win over Africans, AFP reported.
The 31-year-old midfielder struck in the first minute of the second half in Cairo as the record 11-time African champions clinched first place in Group D.
A clever pass set Ali Maaloul free down the left wing and his cutback was fired past Young Africans goalkeeper Djibril Diarra by El-Shahat.
It was the fifth goal of the Champions League campaign for the Egyptian international, who also scored the only goal last weekend in an away victory over Medeama of Ghana.
Bafana Bafana forward Percy Tau retained his spot in the lineup which saw four changes including Akram Tawfik, Rami Rabia, Marwan Ateya, and Ahmed Kouka.
The match kicked off with an open play, with an early chance for Yanga’s Aziz Ki saved by Al-Ahly’s goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir.
The Red Devils had their opportunity as well, with defender Mohamed Abdelmonem narrowly missing a header in the box.
With 15 minutes left in the game, Al-Ahly’s coach Marcel Koller made strategic substitutions, introducing winger Taher Mohamed and striker Wessam Abou Ali for fresh energy in the attack.
As the final whistle approached, winger Reda Slim came on for Tau as Al-Ahly managed to maintain their lead and secure the top spot in Group D.
Medeama ends campaign with defeat in Algeria
In the other Group D match, Medeama SC has ended its run in the CAF Champions League group stage with a 3-0 loss against hosts CR Belouizdad in Algeria.
Abdelraouf Benguit and Cameroonian striker Leonel Wamba each scored for CRB in the first half, after which the hosts found a late third goal through substitute Lamin Jallow.
CRB moved level on points with second placed Young Africans but their decisive 4-0 defeat in Dar es Salaam last week allowed Yanga to finish as runners-up.
Although both teams were out of contention for the next round, the home side delivered a passionate performance for their fans.
Belouizdad took control of the game, avenging their previous 2-1 loss to Medeama. Midfielder Benguit scored in the 27th minute, followed by Cameroonian Wamba extending the lead. Gambian attacker Jallow secured the win with the third goal.
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