CAIRO — Wessam Abou Ali scored a hat-trick as CAF Champions League title-holders Al-Ahly of Egypt came from behind to crush CR Belouizdad of Algeria 6-1 at the Cairo International Stadium.
Hussein el-Shahat, South African Percy Tau and Emam Ashour also scored for the record 12-time African champions in the Group C match, which was delayed by the Intercontinental Cup commitments of Ahly.
Aymen Mahious had given Belouizdad a shock 21st-minute lead which they retained until first half added time when Ali levelled with a looping close-range shot.
Ahly, hoping this season to become the first club to win the Champions League three times in a row, went ahead five minutes into the second half when Ali scored direct from a free kick.
After El-Shahat stretched the lead, Ahly went on a late scoring spree, started by Ali in the 84th minute with a shot from just outside the area.
Ali, a 25-year-old forward born in Denmark and a Palestine international through descent, is the first player to score a hat-trick in a Champions League group match this season.
It is the first record A hat-trick for Al-Ahly in the competition since Mahmoud Kahraba’s hat-trick against the Cameroonian cotton net on March 17, 2023.
Victory took Al-Ahly back to the top of Group C with seven points from three matches, having beaten Stade Abidjan of the Ivory Coast and drawn with Orlando Pirates of South Africa.
Pirates, who in 1995 became the first South African club to be crowned African champions, have five points, Belouizdad three and Stade one halfway through the group stage.
The remaining three matchdays are scheduled for January with the winners and runners-up in the four groups advancing to the quarter-finals.
From Al Hilal’s stunning win in Algiers to Esperance Tunis’ dominance in Rades, the matches showcased Africa’s elite clubs battling for crucial points at the halfway stage of the competition.
South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns secured their first win, while Orlando Pirates maintained their grip on Group C despite being held to a draw.
Group D saw Esperance Tunis take command with an impressive victory over Pyramids, while a goalless draw between Djoliba and Sagrada kept things tight.
With the group standings taking shape, the race for knockout qualification intensifies as teams prepare for the decisive second half of the campaign.
Al Hilal Omdurman continued their dominant start with a hard-fought 1-0 win over MC Alger in Algiers, courtesy of Guessouma Fofana’s header in the 76th minute.
The Sudanese side now leads the group with nine points. Earlier in the day, Mazembe and Young Africans played out a dramatic 1-1 draw.
Cheick Fofana gave Mazembe the lead before Prince Dube’s stoppage-time equalizer rescued a point for Yanga.
MC Alger remains second with four points, while Mazembe and Yanga trail with two and one point, respectively.
Mamelodi Sundowns earned a crucial 1-0 victory over Raja Casablanca, thanks to Iqraam Rayners’ 65th-minute strike.
The South African side now shares the top spot with FAR Rabat, who drew 1-1 against Maniema Union.
Exaucia Moanda’s first-half goal for Maniema was canceled out by To Carneiro’s second-half equalizer for FAR Rabat.
Raja Casablanca remains bottom with one point, struggling to find form in the competition. The group remains wide open as Sundowns and Rabat push for qualification.
Esperance Tunis cemented their lead in Group D with a commanding 2-0 victory over Pyramids.
Youcef Belaïli’s first-half strike and Elias Mokwana’s goal before halftime sealed the win. In the group’s other match, Djoliba and Sagrada Esperança played out a tense goalless draw.
Djoliba struck the woodwork twice but couldn’t break through Sagrada’s resilient defense.
Esperance leads with seven points, while Pyramids is second on four points. Djoliba and Sagrada remain winless with two points each.
