Al Ahly Reach CAF Champions League Final Despite 2-1 Semi-final Defeat to ES Setif

Egyptian giants Al Ahly have qualified for the CAF Champions League final despite a 2-1 semi-final second leg defeat to Algeria’s Entente Setif.

The Red Devils went into the fixture leading on a 2-0 aggregate thanks to two first-leg goals from Islam Mohareb and Walid Soliman helping them qualify on a 3-2 aggregate after the 2-1 loss to ES Setif.

Walid Soliman put Al Ahly in a comfortable position with his opener in the 61st minute leaving the host with an almost impossible task of overturning a four-goal deficit.

ES Setif didn’t give up. They continued to attack relentlessly, and soon their efforts paid off. Mohamed Bakir and second-half substitute Houssam Ghacha grabbed two quickfire goals inside ten minutes to spark hopes of a comeback.

Al Ahly, however, held firm to scrap through to the final. The eight-time CAF Champions League winners, Al Ahly, will be playing their second consecutive final and hope this is the year they stretch their tally to nine titles.

This huge match-up will be a repeat of the 2012 CAF Champions League final, which Al Ahly won on a 3-2 aggregate.

The first leg will be played on a home-and-away format in Cairo and Rades on November 2 or 3, with the second leg taking place a week later.

The winner of the tie will go home with a cash prize of US$ 2.25 Million on top of qualifying for the Club World Cup. The runner-up will earn US$1.25 while the two losing finalists De Agosto and Es Setif get a consolation prize of US$ 880, 000

Featured Image: Al Ahly Fans Celebrating a win this season (Alahlytwitter)