Al-Ahly is still Africa’s best team: Mohamed Youssef

CAIRO – 10 November 2018: Al-Ahly’s general coach, Mohamed Youssef, believes that his club is still Africa’s best club despite losing the final.

Al-Ahly lost to ES Tunis in CAF Champions League’s final 0-3 (4-3 on aggregate) at Rades stadium on Friday night. ES Tunis achieved their third African Champions League’s title.


Soccer Football - African Champions League Final - Second Leg - Esperance Sportive de Tunis v Al Ahly - Stade Olympique de Rades, Rades, Tunisia - November 9, 2018 Tunisia's Prime Minister Youssef Chahed presents the trophy to Esperance players after they won the African Champions League Final REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi


“Congratulations to Tunisia’s Esperance; we hoped to perform better but what happened was very likely in the circumstances and atmosphere before the game,” Youssef started his talks in the press conference after the match.

“We witnessed difficult conditions in the 72 hours we spent in Tunisia, the latest of which was the attack on the team bus” Youssef added.

“This is football; we have been affected by Walid Azarou suspension but we should accept CAF decisions,” Youssef complained.

The Moroccan striker was suspended from the Champions League Final second leg against Esperance of Tunisia in Rades after he ripped his own shirt and tricked the referee that granted him a penalty.

“Al-Ahly is still Africa’s best club by numbers,” Youssef concluded.

There is no other team have been defeated in two successive finals except the Congolese team, TP Mazembe, in 1969 & 1970, and Tunisian Étoile Sportive du Sahel in 2004 & 2005.


Al Ahly supporters watch their team's African Champions League Final second leg match against Esperance Sportive de Tunis on a big screen in Cairo, Egypt November 9, 2018. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany

Al-Ahly is the third team to lose two successive finals after being defeated to Wydad Casablance in 2017.