Football: Al Ahly crowned African champions for eighth time
Al Ahly beat Orlando Pirates 2-0 to win eighth African Champions League trophy.
CAIRO (AFP) - Egypt s Al Ahly won an eighth African Champions League trophy when they beat Orlando Pirates of South Africa 2-0 in the second leg of the final in Cairo on Sunday.
Ahly, who have previously won Africa s foremost club competition in 1982, 1987, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2012, won 3-1 on aggregate after a 1-1 stalemate in the first leg.
The Red Devils of Cairo pocketed the cash prize of $1.5 million and will also represent Africa at the FIFA Club World Cup in Morocco next month.
"I m very happy we won. It was a difficult game and a good test for us," said Al Ahly coach Mohamed Youssef.
"Orlando Pirates are a strong side having eliminated Esperance and TP Mazembe on their journey to the final. We were focused on creating chances and capitalizing on the mistakes of our opponents."
Pirates coach Roger De Sa admitted the Egyptians had been the better side over the two legs.
"Their experienced showed in the game. We knew it was going to be difficult. We lost the tie when the first leg ended 1-1. Nevertheless, we played well and created some chances," he said.
"I m very disappointed because I believed we could have achieved it but I m very happy though with the way we carried ourselves."
Mohamed Aboutrika opened the scoring in the 54th minute when he stabbed home from just outside the six-yard box.
Ahmed Abdul Zaher doubled the Ahly lead in the 78th minute when unmarked inside the box he shot past the Pirates goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa.
The Egyptian champions were reduced to 10 men six minutes from time when defender Sherif Abdel Fadil was sent off for a foul on Daine Klate.
Pirates, champions in 1995, put up a spirited fight but Ahly s second goal seemed to kill them off inside a packed Arab Contractors Stadium in Cairo.
The South African champions created several chances, but could not take them.
The best chance of the first half fell to The Buccaneers in the 35th minute when somehow Tlou Segolela failed to convert from inside the six-yard box, after a superb pull back by Klate from the right, with the Ahly goalkeeper well beaten.
Pirates failed again in front of goal in the 63rd minute when Lennox Bacela dribbled past goalkeeper Sherif Ekramy, but his final ball screamed across the face of goal after the Ahly shot stopper forced him wide.
There were no clear-cut chances in front of goal in the first 15 minutes until Mohamed Nagieb s header flashed across the Pirates goal.
On 20 minutes, Ahly goalkeeper Ekramy had to come out to block Segolela inside the penalty area.
Two minutes later, Abdul Zaher s dipping shot forced Pirates goalkeeper Meyiwa to turn it away for a corner.
The Pirates goalkeeper then made a brave save inside his goal area nicking the ball off the feet of goal-bound Zaher a minute before the interval.
