Al Ahly and Mamelodi Sundowns are set to face off in a thrilling second-leg battle for a spot in the CAF Champions League final on Friday night at Cairo International Stadium. The first leg in Pretoria ended in a goalless draw, meaning the tie remains wide open.
Despite Al Ahly’s illustrious history and dominance in African football, Sundowns have had the upper hand in recent encounters. The South African side has gone unbeaten in their last eight matches against the Cairo club, scoring 11 goals while conceding just five. Al Ahly has not defeated Sundowns since May 2021, and they will be eager to break that trend on home soil.
Al Ahly has been defensively solid this season, keeping three consecutive clean sheets in the CAF Champions League. Their defensive strength will be crucial, especially against a Sundowns side that has failed to score in their last 216 minutes of continental action. Peter Shalulile, who has three goals in the tournament, remains Sundowns’ key threat in attack. For Al Ahly, midfielder Emam Ashour, who has scored five goals — the joint-highest in the competition- will be expected to play a pivotal role in sparking their offensive efforts.
Home advantage could prove vital for Al Ahly, who are unbeaten in their last six home matches across all competitions and have won three of their four home games in the CAF Champions League this season. Sundowns, in contrast, have struggled away from home, managing just one win in four away games this season.
Both teams will be aiming to secure a place in the final, and this highly anticipated clash is expected to be a tense, high-intensity encounter under the Cairo lights.
