Al Ahly Win Maiden Caf Confederation Cup Title

Egyptian club Al Ahly claimed their first Caf Confederations Cup title courtesy of a 1-0 win over Sewe Sport in front of a capacity crowd at the Cairo Stadium on Saturday.

Ivoirian outfit Sewe headed into the second leg showdown on the back of a 2-1 win in Abidjan last weekend, but were hard-donned by an injury-time goal by veteran Ahly striker Emad Meteb, as the ‘Red Devils’ edge a 2-2 aggregate scoreline on away goals to clinch the second-tier African club competition trophy for the first time.

An unmarked Meteb rose high to thump home Walid Soliman’s cross beyond goalkeeper Sylvian Ghobouo. The goal was the last piece of action, bringing the 2014 Confederation Cup season to a dramatic end.

Al Ahly are the First Egyptian Club to Win the Caf Confederation Cup, Image: Caf Archive.
Al Ahly are the First Egyptian Club to Win the Caf Confederation Cup, Image: Caf Archive.

Ahly has now won a record-extending 19 African titles, including eight Champions League trophies, six Caf Super Cup successes and four African Cup Winners’ Cup titles.

Ahly’s coach Juan Carlos Garrido- the third tactician to handle the side in this year’s Confederation Cup- raced on to the pitch to, not only celebrate guiding the Egyptian giants to another milestone in club competition, but rejoice at becoming the first-ever Spaniard to win a Caf title.

The ex-Villarreal manager has now completed a cup and continental double having won the Egyptian Super Cup two months after succeeding youth team coach Fathy Mabrouk in September.

Sewe, appearing in their first final in Caf competitions, should have claimed the tie in regulation time had captain Souleymane Dembele not struck the post in the first half, and Esis Aka and Roger Assale- hero from the first-leg victory- converted two gilt-edged chances in the second half.

But it was not to be for the Stade Robert Champroux outfit, who will now travel back home with their heads held up high knowing they fought till the end of it.