Hanni gives Al Ahly a narrow win over Al Hilal

At the Cairo International Stadium in Egypt on Tuesday night, Al Ahly defeated Al Hilal Omdurman 1-0 in the first leg of the CAF Champions League quarterfinal.

Because of this, the Egyptian football giant won the first leg of the competition and will go into the second leg, which is scheduled for April 8 in Mauritania, with a slim aggregate lead.

However, when the Sudanese powerhouses visit Al Ahly at Cheikha Ould Boïdiya Stadium, their temporary home field, Al Hilal will be eager to erase the deficit.

Nejc Gradisar and Wessam Abou Ali were the main targets of the home team’s attack as the Red Eagles concentrated most of their attacks on the wide areas, putting pressure on Blue Wave’s full-backs and lanky center forward.

Goalie Issa Fofana broke the tie in the eleventh minute by deflecting a cross from the right into the path of Mohamed Hani, who then scored with a rasping effort. At halftime, Al Ahly had a 1-0 lead.

Following the restart, both teams attacked. In the 64th minute, Fofana denied Rami Ramia, and in the 66th minute, veteran goalkeeper Mohamed El-Shennawy stopped Jean Girumugisha’s shot.

As Al Hilal attempted to grab a late equalizing goal in the 88th minute, coach Florent Ibenge substituted Altayeb Abaker. The defending African champions, however, held their ground and won the match 1-0.

(1) Al Ahly (Hani 11′)

Al Hilal (0) 0

Ahly: Wessam Abou Ali (Kamal 76′), Akram Tawfik – Achraf Bencharki (El Shahat 85′), Emam Ashour, Rami Rabia, Achraf Dari, Yahya Attiat-Allah – Marwan Attia, and Mohamed El Shennawy – Mohamed Hani.

Al-Hilal: Ahmed M’Bracek (Abekar 88′), Jean Claude Girumugisha, Yasir Mozamil (Coulibaly 64′), Issa Fofana – Steven Ebuela, Taieb Ben Zitoun (Diouf 31′), Mohamed Saeed Ahmed, Khadim Diaw – Madické Kane, Walieldin Khidir, Salaheldin Adil (Raouf 64′).