CAF Champions League: Trezeguet stars as Al Ahly seize control of Group A with win over Yanga

Al Ahly eased to a 2-0 victory over Tanzanian champions Young Africans (Yanga) on Friday, allowing the Cairo giants to take firm command of Group B in the CAF Champions League.

Egypt national team forward Trezeguet opened the scoring with a header from Mohamed Hany before producing an excellent curled finish in the second half to give the hosts the edge at the Borg El Arab Stadium in Alexandria, Egypt.

Visitors Young Africans did well to neutralize the Egyptian Nile League champions for most of the first half but lost their focus in stoppage time. Yanga goalkeeper Djigui Diarra did well to deny Trezeguet a goal by coming off his line quickly to cut off a long pass behind the defense in the 39th minute.

However, the Malian shot stopper could not quite do enough when Trezeguet got a firm head to Hany’s early cross. Diarra got a hand to the ball but it was not strong enough to prevent Al Ahly from taking the lead.

Despite the introduction of attacking star Pacôme Zouzoua before the hour mark, Yanga failed to make progress against a strong Ahly defense.  In the 75th minute, Emam Ashour set up Trezeguet for a shooting opportunity on the left wing and the former Aston Villa player had plenty of time to put the ball on his preferred right foot and curl his shot around Diarra.

Al Ahly now lead Group A by three points with seven points from three matches and will return to Nile League action on Tuesday at home against Wadi Degla before traveling to Tanzania to face Young Africans on their home turf.

Yanga are in second place in Group B with four points while Morocco’s AS FAR and Algerian club JS Kabylie have a point each. AS FAR and JSK will face off on Saturday in Tizi Ouzou, Algeria.

CAF Champions League: Group B Table