Al Ahly Coach Garrido Left Frustrated After Super Cup Defeat to ES Sétif
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Al Ahly manager Juan-Carlos Garrido expressed deep disappointment following his side’s penalty shootout loss to ES Sétif in the CAF Super Cup on Saturday evening.
The tightly contested match, played in Blida, ended 1-1 after 90 minutes. Abdelmalek Ziaya gave Sétif the lead in the 70th minute, only for veteran striker Emad Meteab to rescue Al Ahly with a dramatic equaliser in the 93rd minute. With no extra time played in the Super Cup, the match went straight to penalties, where the Algerian side triumphed 6-5.
Speaking after the defeat, Garrido acknowledged the effort of his players but lamented the outcome.
“Losing this African Super Cup on penalties is difficult to accept,” said the Spaniard. “Our team played a great game and, in my view, deserved to be crowned champions.”
He added: “Of course, ES Sétif scored first, but credit to us for fighting until the end and finding an equaliser just before the final whistle. Unfortunately, luck deserted us in the shootout. It’s a shame — we were counting on this Super Cup win to spark a new dynamic within the team.”
For Al Ahly, the loss is a bitter one, as the club hoped the Super Cup would serve as a turning point in their season. For ES Sétif, the victory marks their first CAF Super Cup title and reinforces their status as a continental powerhouse.
