CAF Confederation Cup: Ahli Tripoli records victory at home

Libya’s Al Ahli Tripoli picked up win at home to record their maiden victory of the group phase in the 2021-22 season of the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup. 

At the Martyrs of February Stadium in Benghazi, home side Ahli picked a 2-1 win over Tunisia’s CS Sfaxien to move to second in Group A. 

Aymen Harzi scored a late penalty for Sfaxien, but it couldn’t be enough to lead a turnaround with the home side having gone ahead through Chadi Hammami’s own goal and Saleh Al Taher’s wonderful goal. 

Hammami turned the ball into his own net in the sixth minute to give Ahly the lead, as he stretched his foot to try and cut out Mohamed El-Mounir’s cross from the left. It was a befitting goal for the home side which had been more adventurous upfront from the start. 

Sfaxien had an opportunity to draw level on the half hour mark but Hussein Ali’s shot was saved by the keeper. On the other end the Sfax keeper was also made to work, this time punching away Mohamed El Fakih’s freekick after it took an awkward bounce infront of him. 

In the second half, Ahli continued to press in attack and they had the second seven minutes after the restart through El Taher’s first time side footed shot off a Mohamed Al Tubal cutback from the left. 

Sfaxien pushed to try and get back into the match and their only goal came in the 87th minute when Harzi scored from the spot after Mohamed Ben Ali was fouled inside the box. 

El Fakih would have restored Ahli’s two goal advantage at the death, but his freekick from the edge of the box came off the woodwork. 

CAFOnline/Nnenna.O