Ahly beat Al-Hilal to set up CAF Champions League semi-final clash with Sundowns - Egyptian Football
Ahly have booked their place in the semi-finals of the CAF Champions League with a 2-0 aggregate victory over Sudan's Al-Hilal, setting up a highly anticipated clash with South Africa's Mamelodi Sundowns.
The Egyptian giants, who held a 1-0 advantage from the first leg in Cairo, secured a second-leg win by the same margin on Tuesday to advance to the last four for the sixth consecutive time.
Emam Ashour scored the decisive goal ten minutes from time, slotting home a right-footed shot into the bottom corner after a swift counterattack and a well-timed assist from substitute Taher Mohamed Taher.
Right-back Mohamed Hany had netted the only goal in the first leg, giving the record 12-time African champions a slender but vital lead.
Ahly coach Marcel Koller made a key tactical change in the 61st minute, introducing winger Taher in place of Palestinian striker Wessam Abou Ali to add pace to the frontline.
The move paid off as Taher - who made his return for the first time since 14 December 2024 - played a pivotal role in the late goal that sealed the tie.
Al-Hilal came close to snatching a lead in the 75th minute, but Abdel Raouf Yagoub's powerful effort from inside the box was superbly saved by Ahly goalkeeper Mohamed El Shennawy.
After Ashour's strike, Koller turned to his bench again, bringing on youngsters Ahmed Reda and Mohamed Abdallah to shore up the midfield, while Karim El Debes replaced Achraf Bencharki in a late tactical reshuffle.
Ahly will now meet fierce rivals Mamelodi Sundowns in the semi-finals after the South African side edged Tunisia's Esperance 1-0 on aggregate in their quarter-final tie.
(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)
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