Al Ahly to host Espérance behind closed doors in Champions League quarter-final

Al Ahly SC will play their upcoming quarter-final second leg in the CAF Champions League without supporters after a disciplinary ruling by the Confederation of African Football.

The Egyptian club are due to face Espérance Sportive de Tunis on 21 March at the Cairo International Stadium.

However, the match will now take place behind closed doors, meaning fans will not be permitted to attend.

The decision was announced by CAF’s Disciplinary Committee following incidents that occurred earlier in the competition. Those events took place during the group-stage match between Al Ahly and AS FAR.

As a result of the ruling, the Cairo-based club will be forced to contest the crucial second leg without the presence of their home supporters, who traditionally play a major role in creating an intense atmosphere during continental fixtures.

Matches involving Al Ahly in the CAF Champions League are often played in front of large crowds at Cairo Stadium, where the club typically enjoys strong backing from its fans.

On this occasion, however, the team will have to navigate the decisive encounter in silence.

The sanction comes at an important moment in the tournament, with the quarter-finals representing a key stage in the race for Africa’s most prestigious club trophy.

The tie against Espérance de Tunis is expected to be closely contested, given the status of both teams in African football.

Espérance, one of the continent’s most successful clubs, will travel to Cairo knowing that the absence of supporters could alter the atmosphere usually associated with an Al Ahly home game.

CAF’s disciplinary measures underline the organisation’s effort to address incidents that occur during its competitions.

By imposing the closed-door sanction, the governing body has signalled its intention to enforce regulations regarding conduct during matches.

For Al Ahly, the ruling means the team must focus on the sporting challenge ahead while coping without the vocal backing of their supporters.

The quarter-final second leg against Espérance de Tunis will therefore unfold in an unusually quiet setting at Cairo International Stadium.