AFC Champions League: Al Ahli and African trio come back to book place in final

Riyad Mahrez, Édouard Mendy and Franck Kessié are on their way to a successful continental title defense after Al Ahli Saudi Club came back to secure a 2-1 semifinal victory over Japanese club Vissel Kobe in the AFC Champions League Elite.

They earned it.. they celebrated it 💚👑#AlAhli | #ACLElite | #LetsGoWithAlAhli pic.twitter.com/zqYdNCArD0

— Al-Ahli Saudi Club (@ALAHLI_FCEN) April 20, 2026

The visitors from Japan did not make it easy. An impressive first half saw Vissel Kobe neutralize the high-priced Ahli attack, with Yoshinori Muto putting them ahead around the half hour mark from an assist by fellow former Japan national team veteran Yuya Osako.

Another AFC Champions League comeback maintains title defense

But an excellent second half performance allowed the hosts to advance at the King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah. Brazilian forward Galeno’s spectacular strike leveled the match shortly after an hour gone and from that point on, Vissel Kobe were under siege.

 

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Former Brentford star Ivan Toney won it about ten minutes later with his 70th minute goal to give Al Ahly the lead for good.

Senegal goalkeeper Mendy and Ivory Coast national team captain Kessié played the full match, three days after securing a quarterfinal victory over Malaysian club Johor Darul Ta’zim at the same venue. Similarly, after going down a goal it was Kessié who provided the breakthrough by equalizing before the hosts overcame their opponents.

Now the Saudi giants await the winner of the other semifinal between Japanese club Machida Zelvia and Al Ahli Dubai, who will play on Tuesday in Jeddah. The defending champions will look to make it two in a row in Asia’s premier club competition after defeating another Japanese club, Kawasaki Frontale, 2-0 in last year’s final.