Staff Reporter.
Al Ahly have concluded their CAF Champions League group-stage campaign with a 1-0 home victory over Tanzanian champions Simba FC.
The Reds hosted Simba in a dead-rubber as Simba had already qualified for the quarter-finals as group winners, with Al Ahly accompanying them as runner-ups.
However, Pitso Mosimane’s men wanted avenge their defeat against their Tanzanian counterparts over a month ago, thanks to Luís Miquissone’s strike.
And they managed to do so with a tough 1-0 victory at El-Salam Stadium through Mohamed Sherif, who scored his third goal in the Champions League this season.
The Red Devils completedy dominated the first-half and could have scored more than once in the opening 30 minutes if it wasn’t for goalkeeper Aishi Manula.
They had to wait until the 32nd minute to break the deadlock after Sherif converted Afsha’s cross with a header, but the initial strike was saved, before the rebound was turned in by the forward.
Despite the goal, the hosts ended the first-half with bad news as Junior Ajayi had to be taken out on a stretcher and was replaced by Taher Mohamed.
The second-half was much more calmer and the visitors were the better side and if it wasn’t for El-Shennawy and the bar they would at least scored twice in the dying moments of the game.
However, Al Ahly managed to grab the three points to maintain the Tanzanian clubs’ curse in Egypt with just two draws and 22 defeats in 24 visits.
Meanwhile the Reds also extended their unbeaten home run in the Champions League to 32 games, with their last defeat coming back in June 2016 against ASEC Mimosas.
Following the victory, Al Ahly finished the group stages in second place with 11 points, two behind leaders Simba SC, while Vita Club came third with seven points followed by bottom-placed Al Merrikh, who collected just two points.