Al Ahly at the final training session in Cairo ahead of the match in Morocco. Photo: Al Ahly/Twitter
Head Coach of Al Ahly of Egypt, Marcel Koller is confident his team will complete the job in Casablanca, on Sunday, June 11, and wrestle back the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League title from Wydad Athletic Club of Morocco.
Ahly won the first leg of the final 2-1 at the Cairo International Stadium and only needs to avoid defeat in Casablanca on Sunday 11th June, to clinch a record-extending 11th crown.
“I am delighted with the victory. The final is always difficult because it is a meeting between the two best teams in the Continent”. Koller said.
Koller expressed optimism that his team will score at least a goal in Casablanca, giving it a good advantage.
The coach assured that he has sufficiently prepared the team for the return leg, and that includes re-watching the entire first leg played in Cairo and mapping out a better strategy to combat The Red Castle in their backyard in Casablanca.
South African forward, Percy Tau and Mahmoud Kahraba scored a goal in either half from a pair of Hussein Elshahat assists as the Red Devils won the first leg 2-1 to edge closer to a record-extending 11th Champions League title.
Wydad gave themselves a good chance with an away goal, substitute Said Eddine Bouhra scoring with four minutes from full time, to keep the tie within reach for the return fixture.
The final is a repeat of last year’s final in the same competition, which Wydad won 3-0.
Writing by Chinedum Ohanusi; Editing by Muzha Kucha, Julian Osamoto and Adeniyi Bakare