Esperance Humbled At Home As Azaro the Hero for Ahly

Esperance were yesterday put in their place by Egypt’s Al Ahly with Walid Azaro making the difference in the CAF Champions League group game.

It took the red-hot Walid only thirty-two minutes to break the deadlock with a brilliant effort, converting a Saad Samir’s assist that earned the Cairo Red Devils the spoils.

The sides are now tied on points with each on ten in five games as they share Group A’s table top.

Held at the Olympique Rades, home ground to the two-time tournament winners, Esperance were brought back down to earth in a fierce battle of North Africa clubs.

The encounter also had 23-year-old Moroccan striker Azaro upstaging rival Taha Yassine Khenissi in the individual duel.

The Tunisian champions went into the showdown devoid of competition rhythm but made up for the gap with their involvement in the Arab Club Cup games.

However, it didn’t prove helpful, at least not in the game against the Egyptian heavyweights.

Both teams are still assured of passage to the next round with a match to spare.

It was the sides third meeting in nine months after Ahly again cruised in their previous face-off leading to Sportive Esperance’s exit of the championship in the quarter-finals.