RAJA CASABLANCA COULD NOT HOLD THE HEAT AS AHLY BEAT THEM TO CLINCH EIGHTH TOTALENERGIES CAF SUPER CUP TITLE

Al Ahly won their eighth TotalEnergies CAF Super Cup after edging out Raja Club Athletic 6-5 in a dramatic post-match penalties shootout after a 1-1 draw in regulation time.

Raja’s Abdelilah Madkour skied his sudden death penalty to hand Ahly the title, after all the first five shooters had expertly tucked away the penalties.

The TotalEnergies CAF Champions League holders had forced the game into penalties after Taher Mohamed Taher had scored the equalizer at the stroke of 90 minutes, cancelling out Raja’s 13th minute opener.

On penalties, both sides were spot on in the first five. Ali Maaloul, Badr Benoun, Percy Tau, Ahmed Radwan and Taher had scored the first five for Ahly while Mohamed Azrida, Zakaria El Wardi, Marouane Hadhoudi, Mahmoud Benhalib and skipper Mohsine Mouataouali had responded for Raja.

In sudden death, Akram Tawfik scored the first for Ahly, but Madkour skied his response for Raja.

In regulation, time, Raja broke into the lead in the 13th minute when AbdelIlah Hafidi effort wronged Ahly goalkeeper Mohamed Elshenawy and defense to go into the net in a highly competitive tie at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium.

A swift counter attack by the Green Eagles saw Hafidi break through on the right before taking a shot that beat Mohamed Elshenawy in the Ahly goal. Hamid Ahadad who was following it through ensured it would be a definite goal, though the ball had already crossed the line by the time he was getting a touch on it.

Ahly sought to get back on level terms immediately in the end to end game and Hussein El Shahat came close with a shot from 20 yards out but the effort was smothered away by Anas Zniti in the Raja goal.

On the other end Elshenawy was also forced to work when he narrowed his angle well to keep away a shot from Abdeljalil Djibra.

The end to end encounter couldn’t produce more goals before the break.

In the second half, the Red Devils of Cairo were more adventurous and pressed Raja to defend in their half, as they tried to get an equalizer.

Mohamed Magdy Afsha came close when he picked up a volley from distance, but keeper Zniti made a comfortable save. Ahly piled the pressure but Raja were standing tall in defense, cutting out all the cross balls.

Percy Tau came close for Ahly with nine minutes left when a flicked ball from substitute Mohamed Sherif landed on his path, but his effort at volleying over the keeper placed the ball wide.