CAF Champions League: Esperance edge Al Ahly in late Cairo classic

Esperance pulled off a dramatic 3-2 win away to Al Ahly in Cairo, sealing a 4-2 aggregate triumph and a place in the CAF Champions League semi-finals after a pulsating second leg.

Backed by a packed Cairo International Stadium, Ahly flew out of the blocks and levelled the tie when Trezeguet struck on 10 minutes, sparking huge noise and belief in the stands.

The game exploded after the break. Florian Danho silenced the home crowd by equalising on 68 minutes, before Mohamed Tougaï coolly converted a penalty in the 78th minute to turn the match on its head and put Espérance 2-1 up on the night.

Al Ahly refused to fold, and substitute Marwan Otaka dragged them back into it with an 84th-minute goal, setting up a frantic finale.

Deep into added time, Hamza Jelassi delivered the killer blow, finishing in the 90+4 minute to make it 3-2 and end Ahly’s hopes.

Despite dominating possession, the Egyptian giants were undone by Espérance’s ruthless counter-attacks and composure in key moments.