Egyptian club Al-Ahly won their tenth African Champions League this Saturday, after disposing of the Kaizer Chiefs of South Africa.
South Africa's most successful club, Kaizer Chiefs Football Club, were no match for Al-Ahly. The powerful Egyptian club crushed Johannesburg's formation without difficulty, with three goals scored for none conceded. Al-Ahly started as favorite, the Egyptian club finding itself without much continental competition after the elimination of Esperance Tunis, another favorite of the competition, in the semi-final.
For their part, the Chiefs had beaten Wydad Casablanca in the first leg, creating a surprise. But the feat was not repeated and Al-Ahly therefore walked on the lawn of the Mohammed V stadium in Casablanca, with 70% possession of the ball.
This consecration is the tenth in this competition for the Cairo club. Al-Ahly has proven his superiority over other African teams. It is the most successful club in Africa and the world, which should keep its record for several years.
But all has not been easy for the Egyptian club in recent years: Al-Ahly was deprived of the CAF Champions League between 2014 and 2019, in particular because of increased competition from Congolese teams, like TP Mazembe, or Maghreb teams such as the Moroccan Wydad and the Entente de Sétif in Algeria. However, it was Esperance Tunis that deprived Al-Ahly of the continental title two years in a row, before the Cairo club returned to its former level in 2020 in a 100% Egyptian final, against its rival. of Zamalek SC.
The champ10ns of Africa ❤🦅🌍#GoAhly# CHAMP10NS pic.twitter.com/XGzRuiUktl
- Al Ahly SC 🇫🇷 (@AlAhlyfrancais) July 17, 2021
A Club World Cup more African than ever
Al-Ahly therefore returns to victory in the CAF Champions League, against Kaizer Chiefs who did not put up much resistance. The Egyptian club will therefore play again in the FIFA Club World Cup (CMC). Al-Ahly finished third, for the second time in its history, in the 2020 edition.
This year, Al-Ahly will be aiming for the title, which no African has ever managed to lift. With the exception of TP Mazembe in 2010 and Raja in 2013, no other continental team managed to reach the final. The Al-Ahly team, however, seems armed to go for a 143rd title.
In 2019, FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced the expansion of the CMC to 24 teams. The competition has still not been contested in this new format because of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Club World Cup normally takes place in China. But at the last news, Japan is also in the running for the organization of the CMC, which could eventually be relocated.
For Africa, it will in any case be a special edition: for the first time, four continental teams will be present, of which a maximum of three will qualify for the second round of the CMC. Among them, two could end up in the semi-finals against South American and European representatives. With twice the chances of reaching the final, Africa can finally hope to win a CMC. A 100% African final is even possible. It will still be necessary to look good in a competition that promises to be surprising.