Al Ahly hold a 1-0 advantage over Al Hilal Omdurman at halftime in the CAF Champions League quarter-final first leg, with Mohamed Hany’s early goal setting the tone at the Cairo International Stadium.
The Egyptian giants wasted no time asserting their dominance, finding the breakthrough in just the 11th minute.
Hany, the 29-year-old right-back, capitalized on an attacking move to give Marcel Koller’s side a crucial lead.
With the home crowd firmly behind them, Al Ahly controlled much of the opening half, keeping the Sudanese visitors under pressure.
A first half of few chances
Despite Al Ahly’s strong start, the first 45 minutes did not produce many clear-cut chances for either team.
The hosts looked comfortable in possession, circulating the ball well, but struggled to carve out additional scoring opportunities.
Al Hilal Omdurman, meanwhile, remained defensively compact, relying on quick counter-attacks to test the Egyptian backline.
The Sudanese side showed flashes of promise but were unable to break through Al Ahly’s disciplined defense.
Their best chance came just before halftime, but they failed to capitalize, leaving them with a one-goal deficit heading into the second half.
Second half promises high intensity
With the second leg still to come, Al Hilal Omdurman will be eager to find an equalizer and avoid returning home at a disadvantage.
The visitors are expected to come out with greater intensity after the break, pushing forward in search of a crucial away goal.
For Al Ahly, maintaining control and adding to their lead will be key to securing a comfortable position ahead of the return leg.
The reigning African champions will need to balance their attacking ambition with defensive solidity to keep their Sudanese opponents at bay.
With 45 minutes left to play, the quarter-final tie remains wide open, setting the stage for an intense second half in Cairo.
