Mustafa Yahya

Sunday, September 24, 2023 11:59 PM

The team’s coach, Marcel Koller, was intrigued Al-Ahlito celebrate with his fans after his team’s 3-0 win over St George’s of Ethiopia in the first leg of the African Champions League Round of 32 on Sunday evening in the game that brought them together.

Al-Ahli’s hat-trick goals in the 29th and 58th minutes and Ahmed Abdel Kader in the third minute of stoppage time completed Al-Ahly’s hat-trick as the Red Giants took the first leg of their journey. Retained their African Champions League title from last year..

Bilateral matches between Al-Ahly and St George’s will be played in Cairo, after both clubs agreed. Failure to host matches in Ethiopia as Ethiopian stadiums do not meet Confederation of African Football (CAF) requirements..

Al-Ahly’s line-up for the match: Mohamed El-Shenawi, Mohamed Hani, Rami Rabia, Mohamed Abdel Monim, Ali Maaloul, Marawan Attia, Aliu Dieng, Imam Ashour, Hussain El-Shahad, Percy Tao and Mahmoud Ghahraba.

The meeting between Al-Ahly and St George’s will be the first meeting between the two teams in the African Club Championship, but Al-Ahly have previously faced Al-Ben and Jimma Aba Keffer clubs from Ethiopia..

Al-Ahly’s first match against an Ethiopian club was against Al-Ben of Ethiopia in the round of 32 of the African Champions League. The first leg in Addis Ababa took place on 22 March 1998 and ended in a 1–1 draw. In the return match in Cairo on April 3, 1998, the two teams drew 2–2, resulting in Al-Ahly’s relegation. The offside goal counted as two goals, and at that time Al-Ahly played with a team with disabilities, the “Super” Arab held in Tunisia. While the first team was playing Al-Shabaab Saudi Arabia on the same day in the Elite Cup, Al-Ahli scored two goals to none to win the title..

The second clash was against the same Ethiopian side and in the same round of 32 of the African Champions League. The two teams were held to a goalless draw on 25 March 2012 in Addis Ababa and the return leg in Cairo on 8 April 2012. AD, Al-Ahli won 3-0 to complete their run and win the championship..

The third clash with Jimma Aba Djeffer’s side in the round of 32 of the African Champions League. Al-Ahly won 2-0 in Cairo on 14 December 2018, and Jimma Aba Djefer won in Addis Ababa in December with a free goal. 23, 2018..

Al-Ahli played 6 matches against Ethiopian clubs, winning two matches, drawing three and losing one match. Its players scored eight goals and conceded four goals.