The history of Al-Ahly and Zamalek in CAF Champions League
The two Egyptian giants are set to clash in the African champions league final this month in Cairo. Here's the lowdown on their battles in the continent's premier club competition.
The sides who will contest the African champions league final have been decided after Zamalek of Egypt beat Raja Casablanca yesterday 3-1 (4-1 on aggregate) at Cairo International Stadium to set up a mouth-watering clash with the historic rival Al-Ahly.
Al-Ahly had earlier secured the first seat in the tournament decider after defeating Wydad 2-0 in the semi-final's first leg in Casablanca before asserting their eligibility to be present in the final game with a 3-1 victory in the return leg.
The history of head-to-head clashes favors the Red Devils
Ahly and Zamalek first met in the Champions League in the semi-final of the 2005 edition when Al-Ahly claimed a 2-1 victory in the first leg with two goals from Emad Met'eb and Mohamed Barakat while Zamalek's goal was scored by Hazem Emam. Al-Ahly then defeated Zamalek 2-0 in the return leg with a brace from Mohamed Barakat.
The two teams faced-off again in the quarter-final group stage of the 2008 tournament when Al-Ahly secured a 2-1 win in the first round while their second encounter in the fifth round ended in a 2-2 draw.
The same scenario was repeated when the Red Devils clashed with the White knights in the group stage in 2012 with Ahly's legend Mouhamed Aboutrika leading his team to a 1-0 victory in the second round before the two teams tied 1-1 in the sixth round.
The last African encounter between the two sides took place when the quarter-final draw in 2013 placed both of them in the same group once again. The first game ended in a 1-1 draw while Al-Ahly ma nagged to crush Zamalek with 4 goals and claim a landslide victory in the second encounter.