Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Egypt’s clubs continued to assert their dominance on the continental stage as Matchday Two of the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup delivered another weekend of drama, tactical nuance and shifting group dynamics across Africa. Both Al-Ahly and Al-Masry emerged unbeaten from demanding away fixtures, reinforcing their status as early contenders in their respective competitions.
At a pulsating Stade Mohammed V in Rabat, reigning African champions Al-Ahly showed once again why they remain the benchmark for club football on the continent. Against an energetic AS FAR side buoyed by a raucous home crowd, the Cairo giants demonstrated resilience and veteran composure in a 1–1 draw that keeps them atop Group B of the Champions League on goal difference.
The match swung on a dramatic sequence late in the first half. In the 37th minute, AS FAR midfielder Mohamed Hrimat stepped up to convert what could have been a momentum-shifting penalty, only to see Ahly goalkeeper Moustafa Shobeir produce a superb low save, arguably the defining moment of the match. Yet the Moroccan hosts quickly rebounded, capitalising on the ensuing pressure as Mohcine Bouriga hammered home from close range to give AS FAR a deserved lead.
Al-Ahly emerged revitalised after halftime, tightening their grip on midfield and pushing the hosts deeper into their own half. Their persistence paid off in the 68th minute when Tunisian international Mohamed Ali Ben Ramadan delivered a perfectly weighted cross, met with precision by Mahmoud Hassan “Trezeguet,” whose downward header secured the equaliser. With the draw, Al-Ahly remain level on points with Tanzania’s Young Africans, holding first place by virtue of goal difference.
In the CAF Confederation Cup, Al-Masry continued their flawless start with a gritty and high-scoring away victory, defeating Zambia’s ZESCO United 3–2 in Ndola to maintain control of Group D. The visitors began emphatically, taking a fourth-minute lead through defender Mohamed Hashem. Though ZESCO struck back almost immediately via Freddy Kouablan, Al-Masry restored their advantage in the 24th minute as Algerian forward Mounder Tenime finished a well-constructed move to send the Port Said side into the break ahead.
ZESCO’s second-half surge, fuelled by a string of attacking substitutions, threatened to tilt the balance, but Al-Masry found a crucial third goal. Algerian striker Abderrahim Deghmoum provided the moment of calm amid the chaos in the 68th minute, guiding in a composed finish that ultimately proved decisive. The Zambian hosts mounted a late rally, with Peter Musukuma pulling one back in the 87th minute and nearly equalising deep into stoppage time. But Al-Masry held their nerve through a tense spell of added time to secure a statement win on the road and strengthen their grip on the group.
Elsewhere in the Champions League, JS Kabylie and Young Africans played out a controlled, tactical 0–0 draw that left defences on top throughout. Neither side managed to consistently unlock the midfield congestion, resulting in few clear opportunities for either goalkeeper. The point lifts Young Africans into second place in Group B, keeping them firmly in contention behind Al-Ahly.
In one of the weekend’s most dramatic turnarounds, RS Berkane stunned Rivers United with two stoppage-time goals to snatch a 2–1 victory in Nigeria and seize the top spot in Group A of the Confederation Cup. Rivers United had taken the lead in the 37th minute when an unfortunate deflection off Lamine Mamadou Camara resulted in an own goal. But Berkane refused to yield, launching a spirited late assault. Youness El Kaabi smashed in the equaliser amid a scramble in the box, and just moments later, Mounir Chouiar completed the remarkable comeback with a controlled finish from close range.
As the dust settles on Matchday Two, the continental landscape is taking shape: Al-Ahly and Al-Masry remain unbeaten and authoritative, Morocco’s Berkane continue their ascent, and Young Africans show they are growing into serious challengers. With the group stages still wide open, Africa’s elite clubs have already signalled that this year’s CAF competitions will be anything but predictable.
