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Esperance Tunis will welcome Al Ahly to Stade Olympique Hammadi Agrebi for the first leg of the CAF Champions League final on Saturday. The hosts are coming off a 3-2 comeback home victory over Etoile Sahel in the Tunisian Ligue Professionelle 1.
They went behind to Raki Aouani's 13th-minute strike but Rodrigo Rodrigues drew the game level five minutes later. Houssam Ghacha and Yassine Meriah added second-half goals to guide their side to all three points.
Al Ahly, meanwhile, claimed maximum points with a 2-1 comeback away win over Baladiyat El-Mahalla in the Egyptian Premier League. All three goals were scored after the break, with Maged Hany putting Mahalla ahead in the 57th minute before Omar Kamal and Anthony Modeste scored late goals to complete the turnaround.
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The Cairo giants will now turn their attention to the continent where they booked their spot in the CAF Champions League final with a 3-0 aggregate victory over TP Mazembe in the semifinal. Esperance eliminated Mamelodi Sundowns with a 2-0 aggregate win.
Esperance Tunis vs Al Ahly Head-to-Head
Al Ahly have won 10 and drawn eight of the 22 meetings between the two sides in this competition. The two sides were paired in the semifinal of the CAF Champions League last season. Al Ahly claimed a 4-0 aggregate win en route to winning the trophy.
Esperance Tunis form guide (all competitions): W-L-L-D-W
Al Ahly form guide (all competitions): W-W-W-W-W
Esperance Tunis vs Al Ahly Team News
Esperance Tunis
There are no injury or suspension concerns for the home side.
Injuries: None
Doubtful: None
Suspension: None
Al Ahly
Legendary goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy has returned from his long-term shoulder injury and was included in the team's 23-man squad for the final.
El-Soulaya, Ahmed Nabil, Ahmed Abdel-Kader, Taher Mohamed and Mohamed Dhaoui are unavailable and did not travel with the squad.
Unavailable: El-Soulaya, Ahmed Nabil, Ahmed Abdel-Kader, Taher Mohamed, Mohamed Dhaoui
Suspension: None
Esperance Tunis vs Al Ahly Predicted XI
Esperance Predicted XI (4-4-1-1): Aman Memmiche (GK); Mohamed Hamida, Mohamed Tougai, Yassine Meriah, Mohamed Ben Ali; Houssam Ghacha, Ghaylen Chaaleli, Roger Aholou, Yan Sasse; Houssem Teka; Rodrigo Rodrigues
Al Ahly Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Oufa Shoebir (GK); Ali Maaloul, Mohamed Abdelmonem, Rami Rabia, Mohamed Hany; Akram Tawfik, Ahmed Kouka; Emam Ashour, Amr El Solia, Percy Tau; Wessam Abou Ali
Esperance Tunis vs Al Ahly Prediction
Two of Africa's most storied clubs will battle for continental glory in the biggest game in African club football. Esperance are seeking their sixth CAF Champions League title and first since 2019.
Al Ahly are the most successful side in the history of this competition and are competing in their fifth successive final.
Both sides have kept a remarkable 10 clean sheets in 11 games played in the tournament this season and another astute defensive performance could be the key to glory. We are backing the spoils to be shared in a goalless draw in the first leg.
Prediction: Esperance 0-0 Al Ahly
