Tunisian side Étoile du Sahel secured a last-minute draw against Al Hilal, ending the CAF Champions League Group C encounter in a 1-1 stalemate on Tuesday.
Sudanese striker Pape Ndiaye had given Al Hilal the lead just before half-time, setting the stage for a potential crucial victory to lift them from the bottom of the group.
However, substitute Salah Barhoumi had different plans, scoring a late equalizer in the 92nd minute, leaving both teams with four points each and two games remaining in the group stage.
Despite the drawn result, Al Hilal’s coach, Florent Ibenge, expressed profound disappointment during the post-match press conference.
“We are really sad to have only taken one point instead of six against Étoile. We have to blame ourselves because we played very well but lost our concentration at the very end of the match by conceding a goal, which was a surprise,” Ibenge stated.
The coach highlighted the team’s overall performance, emphasizing the missed opportunity to secure a more favorable outcome.
“It’s not over yet, as we have two more matches in February. Hopefully, we will make amends and achieve the elusive victory,” Ibenge added, maintaining optimism for the upcoming fixtures.
With the group standings now finely balanced, Al Hilal will aim to regroup and refocus to secure victories in their remaining matches, keeping their hopes alive for progression in the CAF Champions League.
