As Al Ahly prepares to face Medeama SC of Ghana in the fifth round of the 2023-2024 CAF Champions League group stage, a glance back at the club’s history in this phase reveals a mix of victories, draws, and defeats.
Throughout their participation in this stage, spanning several years, Al Ahly has played 20 matches, securing victories in 7, suffering losses in 5, and settling for draws in 8 encounters.
The journey began in 1999 with a resounding victory over Shooting Stars of Nigeria, where Al Ahly emerged triumphant with a commanding 4-1 win in Cairo.
However, the following year saw a disappointing draw against Hearts of Oak from Ghana, dashing Al Ahly’s hopes of reaching the final.
In 2001, an unexpected loss occurred on home soil as Al Ahly fell 4-2 to Petro Atletico of Angola, shaking the team’s confidence.
Similarly, in 2002, Al Ahly faced defeat against Jeanne d’Arc in Senegal, marking one of their lesser performances in the competition.
In 2005, amidst a tense encounter with Morocco’s Raja Casablanca, Al Ahly managed to secure a thrilling last-minute draw courtesy of Emad Moteab.
In 2006, Al Ahly faced a heavyweight clash against Tunisia’s ES Sahel at home in Cairo, clinching a 2-1 victory in front of their passionate supporters.
However, the following year brought a painful defeat as Al Ahly suffered a 3-0 loss to Sudan’s Al Hilal in Khartoum.
In 2008, the Cairo derby between Al Ahly and Zamalek ended in a 2-2 draw, with Flavio and Aboutrika scoring for Al Ahly.
In 2010, Al Ahly secured a crucial 2-1 victory over Nigeria’s Heartland FC in Cairo.
In 2011, Al Ahly managed a valuable draw against Morocco’s Wydad Casablanca in Casablanca, with Mohamed Nagy Gedo scoring the equalizer.
هدف ⚽️ أزارو يسجل الهدف الأول وسط تخبط دفاعي من الترجي!#الترجي 0 – 1 #الأهلي#CAFCL pic.twitter.com/3T1wOzij5A
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) August 17, 2018
In 2012, however, Al Ahly suffered a defeat against TP Mazembe in Lubumbashi.
The 2013 edition saw another Egyptian derby as Al Ahly faced Zamalek in Gouna, with Al Ahly emerging victorious with a stunning 4-0 win.
In 2016, Al Ahly bid farewell to the competition after a 2-2 draw against Zambia’s ZESCO United in Suez.
In 2018, a remarkable victory unfolded as Al Ahly defeated Tunisia’s Esperance de Tunis with a solitary goal from Azaro in Rades.
In 2021, Al Ahly salvaged a valuable 2-2 draw against Sudan’s Al Merrikh, followed by a triumphant 3-1 victory in Cairo in 2022.
In the previous edition of the Champions League in 2023, Al Ahly achieved their biggest win in the fifth round with a convincing 4-0 victory over Cotton Sport in Cameroon.
