Clinical Ahly overpower Wydad to top table
Clinical finishing by Moamen Zakaria and Junior Ajayi powered Al Ahly of Egypt to a 2-0 CAF Champions League win over Wydad Casablanca of Morocco Monday, and top place in Group D.
Morocco Wydad Casablanca’s player Nakach (R) vies for the ball with Egypt’s Al Ahly player Ajayi (L) during the African Champions League (CAF) group stage football match between Egypt’s Al Ahly v Moroccos Wydad Casablanca at the Borg el-Arab Stadium, near Alexandria, on June 4, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / STR
Zakaria scored off a rebound on 24 minutes after goalkeeper Zouhair Laaroubi blocked a Ajayi shot with his leg in Mediterranean city Alexandria.
Nigerian Ajayi doubled the lead 11 minutes from time when a miscued clearance fell into his path and he scored from close range.
Victory at the 90,000-capacity Borg el Arab stadium lifted record eight-time African champions Ahly back to the top of the table.
Ahly and Zanaco of Zambia have seven points, with the Egyptians occupying first place thanks to a superior goal difference.
Former champions Wydad have three points and 2008 runners-up Coton Sport of Cameroon none after three straight losses — the latest a 2-1 defeat by Zanaco in Lusaka last Saturday.
Group winners and runners-up advance to the quarter-finals of the elite African club competition with a record $2.5 million (2.2 million euros) first prize this year.
Ahly are seeking to reach the knockout phase for the first time since defeating Orlando Pirates of South Africa in the 2013 final.
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