Esperance Sportive de Tunis secured a 1–0 victory over Egypt’s Al Ahly SC in the first leg of their CAF Champions League quarter-final, giving them a slender advantage ahead of the decisive return match.
The encounter at the packed Hamadi Agrebi Stadium in Rades lived up to expectations as two of Africa’s most successful clubs battled in a tense and highly tactical contest.
Algerian defender Mohamed Amine Tougai scored the only goal of the match from the penalty spot midway through the second half, ending Esperance’s long run without scoring against Al Ahly.
The result handed the Tunisian side a crucial result before next week’s second leg.
Despite the defeat, the Egyptian champions remain firmly in contention with the return leg scheduled at Cairo International Stadium, where they will attempt to overturn the deficit and keep their continental ambitions alive.
Although Esperance will travel to Egypt with a narrow lead, the tie remains far from settled given Al Ahly’s formidable home record in continental competitions.
The return leg on Saturday at Cairo International Stadium promises another intense chapter in one of African football’s most storied rivalries, with a place in the Champions League semi-finals at stake.