Es Tunis 3-0 Al Ahly CAF Champions League final: match report

ES Tunis 3-0 Al Ahly: match report

Esperance sealed a massive comeback win to deny Al Ahly the chance to win their 9th African Champions League on Friday when they scored threee times without reply to turn over a 3-1 first leg scoreline. The Tunisians will join the world's best in December in the Club World Cup thanks to their third African Champions League success.

Al Ahly's bus was reportedly attacked before the game and they started the game like a side who were afraid of losing and rattled from the incident. They tried to contain Esperance but they weren't for taming on the night. And once the home side got the bit between their teeth, Al Ahly were helpless to arrest their momentum.

Bguir gave the Tunisians hope on the stroke of half-time when he slotted home from a Khenissi pass. Al Ahly had been stung and they had 15 minutes to think about the next 45 with the home fans baying for goals and the Esperance players knowing they had this final in their hands if they were willing to go ahead and do what was needed to win it.

It was Bguir again after the break when he headed home a cross to put them ahead by two on the night and over the two legs on away goals. Al Ahly needed a reply and they needed it soon with just 31 minutes remaining.

They started in second gear and remained in second gear though.

Anice Badri sent the home fans into raptures when he droves forward and drove beyond the Al Ahly keeper to make it three. If the visitors scored, which didn't look likely with four minutes to play, it would only push the game to extra-time and Esperance had handcuffed their attack all night and didn't stop after taking such a firm lead.

The visitors coudln't even muster a shot, however, as they went down as tamely as anyone might have imagined. The eight time champions would remain as such and Esperance won their third title with Al Ahly adding a fourth runners up medal to their list of honours on a night to forget for them.

ES Tunis - Al Ahly live online: live match commentary

ES Tunis - Al Ahly live online: preview

Al Ahly grabbed a nifty 3-1 lead in the first lef of the CAF Champions League final. They have to travel to Tunisia and defend that lead in the second leg on Friday November 9 2016 at 20:00 CET. Al Ahly have no trouble winning to competition as they have shown with their eight previous victories but they will be pushed hard to earn their ninth at Stade Olympique de Radès in the south east of Tunisia.

Between 50 and 55 thousand fans will pack into the stadium. "The last time the stadium was so full was before the 2011 revolution... But all preparations are in place, we're ready," National Security spokesman Walid Ben Hkima told 'AFP'. They have installed metal detectors and extra security measures have been put in place to make sure the atmosphere is lively but safe for the North African derby.

The home side boast a very strong attack in Badri, Belaili and Khenissi and will look to score early to pile pressure on Al Ahly after netting an away goal last week. They will have to score at least twice after the visitors scored three goals at home.

The away side will look to Walid Soliman to score an away goal with Islam Mohareb also impressing in the competition to date. They are without Azaro, however, who is suspended from the first leg.

Mouïne Chaâbani of Esperance says, "Al Ahly is a big team, used to playing in the final. They feel optimistic whenever they encounter Esperance, and they have every right to. It’s a North African derby."

The two sides have clashed on 14 occasions in the past and Al Ahly have won seven times with ES Tunis earning the spoils on three of those attempts. In the first leg, which was a hotly-contested one, three of the four goals came from penalties with VAR heavily involved. Due to the intensity of that affair, Bamalak Tsimba has been called in and is considered one of the finest referees in Africa. It's definitely something to keep an eye on on Friday night.