By Batsirai Sango.
Being the continent’s team of the century simply means making records and extending those particular records and the Cairo giants simply did that.
The just ended CAF champions league season was one filled with exhilaration, and controversy at the same time, but all good things surely do come to an end and so did the prestigious club football competition on the continent.
From the group stages African football’s gladiators gave their uttermost hearts out in the football coliseum for a place in the most important game of all in the champions league season, the final that is.
With the final still in the two-legs format both protagonists in the final Cairo giants Al Ahly of Egypt and Tunis giants Esperance of Tunisia, had a chance to play in front of their faithful giving a fair advantage to both teams.
The first leg took place in Tunis and produced no goal ending goalless leaving the 2nd leg in Cairo evenly poised, and Saturday May 25 was that day.
The Cairo giants it is safe to say they have become like Spanish giants Los Blancos Real Madrid who have made it tradition to win and be at the business end of Europe’s elite club football competition, and they simply affirmed to that narrative.
Derbies of this nature are always difficult to separate as there is that much at play historical rivalry and pride, and the 2nd leg was playing out the same way. It was until Al Ahly’s continued pressure finally gave in with an own goal by Roger Aholou.
Al Ahly would hold on to that 1nil lead and with the final whistle of the game it extended Al Ahly’s record as the most decorated club in Caf club football competitions.
The winners of this year’s elite club football competition saw winners pocketing a whooping 4 million US dollars and the runners up pocketed 2 million dollars, a clear indication of how Caf Supremo Dr. Patrice Motsepe and his lieutenants are striving to ensure African football is commercially sustainable.
Hail to the Red Devils of Africa on another triumph.
