CASABLANCA – Holders Al-Ahly of Egypt held their nerve to progress to the semi-finals of the CAF Champions League with a 3-2 aggregate victory over Morocco’s Raja Club Athletic, following a 1-1 second-leg draw in Casablanca.
The defending CAF CL champions Al-Ahly is through to the final four for the third time in a row.
Defender Mohamed Abdelmonem scored the vital goal for the Red Devils to level the return tie at the Mohamed V Stadium, a goal that proved most vital for the record African champions.
Abdelmonem wiped the blushes off teammate Tunisian left-back Ali Maaloul who had missed an earlier penalty as Ahly remain on course for a third consecutive African title.
Al-Ahly will now take on Algeria’s ES Setif in the semi-finals, the latter having eliminated Esperance with a 1-0 aggregate score.
Heading to the return fixture in Casablanca, Raja needed in the least a 1-0 victory to force the game to penalties or a win of over two goals for outright qualification.
They had a dream start when Ngoma headed them into a fifth minute lead when he headed home at the far post off an Abdelilah Madkour cross.
Raja had won the ball off midfielder Aliou Dieng in a dangerous area, Ngoma playing it out to Madkour before running into the box to head home.
Dieng had an immediate opportunity to make amends when a cross from winger Taher Mohamed found him unmarked inside the box after the restart, but his header flew over.
The Egyptian giants had an even better chance to draw level after 17 minutes, but Maaloul saw his penalty saved by Anas Zniti.
Ahly was awarded a spot-kick after VAR review when Mohsine Moutaouali was adjudged to have brought down winger Hussein el-Shahaat inside the box.
Zniti however did well to parry away Maaloul’s spot kick, the second time he was saving a penalty after also doing so in the first leg.
But Ahly kept their search for an equalizer with the game even and they were rewarded two minutes to the break when Abdelmonem leaped highest inside the box to head home a Maaloul corner. It was the first time that Raja was conceding at home in the CAF Champions League this season.
In the second-half, Ahly sought to wind down the game early and winger Percy Tau had a chance when he went round Zniti off a counter five minutes after the restart, but his eventual target at goal was weak and blocked.
From then on it was all Raja, the home side pushed on by the full to capacity stadium in hunt for a second goal. Moutaouali had a shot saved in the 64th minute as they mounted pressure.
In the 82nd minute, substitute Zakaria Habri came close for Raja when he fund some shooting space inside the box but his effort was finger-tipped over by goalkeeper Mohamed El-Shenawy.
Ahly nearly nicked victory at the death off a counter when Moh
amed Sherif clipped the ball towards goal. Mohamed al-Makaazi nearly scored into own net in an attempt to cut off the ball but he recovered well to clear off the line.
On the other end, Mohamed Zrida came close to scoring in the fourth minute of added time but had an effort at point blank saved by El-Shanawy.
Setif progresses to semi-final
Algeria’s ES Setif stunned home side Esperance du Tunis at the Stade Olympique Hammadi Agrebi in Rades Friday night, beating the four-time winners 1-0 to progress to the semi-final.
Abdelmoumene Djabou scored the lone goal in the 21st minute, handing the Algerians a win on the road to go through 1-0 on aggregate after the first leg in Algiers ended barren last week.
Heading in to the return fixture in Rades, Setif needed in the least a scoring draw to take them through, but they stepped up one better to pick a win on enemy soil and progress to the last four for the first time since 2018.
Djabou broke the deadlock in the 21st minute with a neat finish. The forward waded past the keeper to tap into an empty net after being fed by brilliant Riyad Benayad through ball after he pickpocketed Abdelkader Bedrane at the edge of the box.
Before the goal, Setif had shown intent with Ahmed Kendouci heading just over after Benayad had lifted an inviting cross from the right, Cafonline, reported.
But, Esperance tried to build on from the disappointing start and the best chance of the opening half fell on Hamdou Elhouni who curled in a shot inches wide after cutting in from the right.
In the second half, it was all Esperance as the Tunisian side piled in the pressure. But, Setif keeper Sofiana Khedairia stood tall in between the sticks to ensure the scores remain 1-0 in his side’s favour.
He made a brilliant save to deny Ben Hammouda’s header before Nigerian import Anayo Iwuala headed another chance inches wide. The keeper made another full flight save to deny Elhouni.
Esperance boss Radhi Jaidi made changes bringing on burly forward Kingsley Eduwo and his presence offered fresh trouble for Setif. The Nigerian had a goal in the 66th minute but was flagged down for offside.
Two minutes later, Esperance were denied by the upright, this time Ghaylen Chaaleli coming off the woodwork after sending in a low shot from the edge of the box. In the 79th minute Chaaleli played a quick one-two with Eduwo, but his effort from a tight angle rolled wide.
Esperance poured in absolutely everything in attack, but Setif defended with their lives to keep their hopes of a third Champions League title firmly within their reach.
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