The CAF Champions League final will feature a clash between title-holders Al Ahly of Egypt and their long-standing rivals Esperance of Tunisia, in a two-leg showdown in May.
Al Ahly dominated TP Mazembe from the Democratic Republic of Congo in Cairo, securing a 3-0 victory in the semi-final, echoing their aggregate scoreline after a goalless first leg last Saturday.
Esperance endured persistent pressure from the Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa in Pretoria but clinched a 1-0 win, advancing 2-0 overall after a previous 1-0 home victory.
Mohamed Abdelmonem, Wessam Abou Ali, and Akram Tawfik found the net in the second half for Ahly, aiming for an unprecedented 12th triumph in the prestigious African club competition.
Raed Bouchniba, stepping off the bench, scored 12 minutes into the second half against Sundowns, extending the match to 190 minutes following a storm interruption midway through the opening half.
This will mark the third encounter between Ahly and Esperance in the Champions League final, with the Egyptians victorious in 2012 and the Tunisians triumphing in 2018. Last season, they clashed in the semi-finals, with Ahly emerging victorious home and away, securing a 4-0 aggregate triumph.
Both teams have secured final berths after maintaining 11 clean sheets in 12 qualifying, group, and knockout matches.
Esperance, aiming for a fifth Champions League title, will host the first leg in Rades on May 18, with the return fixture scheduled in Cairo seven days later.
Despite Sundowns' opportunities against Esperance, including shots hitting the woodwork and close chances for Namibia captain Shalulile, Esperance seized the moment with Bouchniba's decisive strike.
Since clinching their lone Champions League title in 2016, Sundowns have reached the semi-finals thrice, falling short on each occasion against North African adversaries.
In Cairo, Joel Beya's early second-half goal for Mazembe was disallowed before Abdelmonem's powerful header from a corner broke the deadlock on 68 minutes. Abou Ali then sealed the victory on 83 minutes with a superb finish from Maaloul's cross, followed by Tawfik's added-time strike, securing Ahly's path to the final.
