Al Ahly Win Africa’s Top Club Competition

Written by Kevin Johnson-Azuara | November 18, 2008 | Leave a Comment

After last week’s debacle that is the FIFA monthly rankings–how Israel is 15th and African champions Egypt remain in the 22nd position is beyond me–we turned our attention back to more local matters as Egypt’s Al Ahly won the CAF African Champions League for a record sixth time on Sunday after beating Coton Sport of Cameroon 4-2 on aggregate.

Al Ahly to Face Coton Sport in CAF Champions League Final

Written by Kevin Johnson-Azuara | October 20, 2008 | Leave a Comment

Egyptian side Al Ahly will meet Coton Sport of Cameroon in the final of the 2008 African Champions League after beating Enyimba 1-0 in Cairo on Saturday.

Five-time champions Al Ahly, who will be in the final of Africa’s premier club tournament for the eighth tournament, become only the third side to reach four straight finals. DR Congo’s TP Englebert Mazembe were the first to do so, winning two finals between 1967 and 1970, while Guinea’s Hafia Conakry also won two of four finals, between 1975-1978. Nigerian side Enyimba, a two-time champion, was bidding to reach its first final since 2004, but rarely troubled the Egyptian defense. » Read more…

Tags: , Al Ahly, CAF Champions League, Coton Sport, Dynamos, Enyimba, Manchester United

CAF: Champions League Group Stage Begins

Written by Kevin Johnson-Azuara | July 21, 2008 | Leave a Comment

Memories will come flooding back for both Dynamos and Asec Mimosas when they meet in this weekend’s opening Group A game of the 2008 Champions League.The duo met in the 1998 Champions League final, where Ivorians, Asec, triumphed 4-2 on aggregate over their Zimbabwean rivals. Although Asec have since turned out such stars as the Toure brothers and Aruna Dindane, it was Ivorian internationals of yesteryear–such as former Ivorian captain Tchiressoua Guel and Donald Sie–who inspired the success. Neither side have reached a final since, although Asec have twice made the semi-finals.