The weather was never an impediment to Al Ahly on their trip to Lubumbashi to face Lamine Ndiaye’s TP Mzamebe. It was very hot in DR Congo when the two giants of African club football faced each other.
In a home fixture that TP Mazembe was determined to win, Al Ahly proved that they remain the undisputed kings at this level on the continent.
The home side dominated the game after recording 16 goal attempts which they failed to make many on target. It was just three shots that TP Mazembe had on target in the entire 90 minutes as the attack off Joel Beya and Kinzumbi failed to do the needful.
On the other hand, Al Ahly enjoyed just 37% possession, had 7 shots and just one attempt on goal.
Al Ahly’s back four of Hany, Maaloul, Rabia and Abdelmonem have been incredible in their journey to defend the title. Ouga Shobeir has surprised the Al Ahly family as he has been keeping the Egyptians in almost all their away ties since he replaced the injured El Shenaawy.
Marcel Koller’s side knows how to defend and they showed it in Lubumbashi on Saturday afternoon.
The tie is not over even though Al Ahly will be the favourites heading into the second leg on Friday. TP Mazembe in the the quarter-finals drew goalless at home against Petro Luanda and continued to record a 2-1 win in Angola. Will they repeat that feat in Cairo in the second leg?
Al Ahly will be the happiest of the two sides with the goalless draw. The Red Devils will be confident to finish TP Mazembe in Cairo.
