Al-Ahli and Al-Hilal will battle for a place in the Asian Champions League final this Tuesday, April 29, 2025, setting up a thrilling showdown between African stars Riyad Mahrez and Yassine Bounou in Jeddah.
In a match packed with star power, the two Saudi giants will meet during the “Final 8” stage, contested in a one-legged format.
Both clubs confirmed their spots in the semi-finals over the weekend with dominant quarter-final performances on home soil.
Al-Ahli, featuring Senegal’s Edouard Mendy and Ivory Coast’s Franck Kessié alongside Mahrez, brushed aside Buriram United with a commanding 3-0 win on Saturday.
Riyad Mahrez once again demonstrated his leadership and quality, finding the net to record his tenth goal of the tournament.
Already the competition’s most prolific chance creator, with 34 assists, the Algerian continues to shine, driving an Al-Ahli attack that has now scored 12 goals in just five knockout matches.
It marked the third consecutive game in which Mahrez has been directly involved in a goal, further cementing his place at the top of the tournament’s scoring charts with nine goals.
Meanwhile, Al-Hilal, with Senegalese defender Kalidou Koulibaly and Moroccan shot-stopper Yassine Bounou in their ranks, crushed South Korea’s Gwangju FC 7-0 on Friday.
Bounou was instrumental, pulling off four crucial saves to maintain a clean sheet and propel Al-Hilal into the semi-finals.
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وجهتك الاولى لتغطية جميع مايخص الاهلي : @AFC4NET
#الأهلي_بوريرام pic.twitter.com/WH0NejLp0p— النخبة مع الشبكة (@alnkhbt27284) April 26, 2025
The highly anticipated clash between Al-Ahli and Al-Hilal promises an intense battle not only between two of Saudi Arabia’s biggest clubs but also between two of Africa’s finest footballers.
With the final set for May 3, either Mahrez or Bounou will be eyeing the chance to lift continental silverware.
Elsewhere in the tournament, Sadio Mané’s Al-Nassr secured their semi-final berth with a 4-1 victory over Japan’s Yokohama Mariners, with Mané himself scoring the second goal of the match.
Ronaldo and his Al-Nassr teammates will now await the outcome of Wednesday’s encounter between Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale and Qatar’s Al-Sadd, which features Algerians Youcef Atal and Adam Ounas, as well as Malian midfielder Mohamed Camara.
With Saudi Arabian sides dominating the quarter-finals, the Asian Champions League is shaping up for an all-star finale featuring some of the biggest names from Africa and beyond.
Sadio Mane’s goal from the stands!
— Al Nassr Zone (@TheNassrZone) April 26, 2025
