CAF Champions League Report: Raja Casablanca v Al Ahly

Defending champions Al Ahly advanced to the CAF Champions League semi-finals after securing a 1-1 draw at Raja Casablanca.

CAF Champions League

Result: Raja Casablanca 1-1 Al Ahly (2-3 on aggregate)

Date: 23 April 2022

Venue: Stade Mohamed V

Red Devils coach Pitso Mosimane went for a front three of Taher Mohamed, Percy Tau and Hamdi Fathi as last season's top scorer Mohamed Sherif started on the bench.

The Moroccan outfit entered the second leg trailing 2-1, but they managed to level matters in the tie after just four minutes thanks to Fabrice Ngoma's close-range header.

Al Ahly were given a lifeline after being awarded a penalty following a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review. However, the visitors were unable to profit after Ali Maaloul's spot-kick was saved by Anas Zniti.

However, the visitors would get back on level terms on the stroke of halftime when Maaloul's corner was neatly nodded home by Mohamed Abdelmonem at the near post.

Tau had a big chance to put Al Ahly ahead eight minutes after the restart, but the Bafana Bafana international failed to beat Zniti in a one-on-one situation.

Mosimane opted to re-shuffle the pack just before the hour mark as El Shahat made way for Ayman Ashraf who dropped into the midfield for the visitors.

With Raja Casablanca piling on the pressure, Tau's tough night upfront came to an end with 11 minutes on the clock as the attacker made way for Salah Mohsen.

Al Ahly had the chance to wrap up the tie in the 92nd minute, but Mohamed Al Makahasi produced a stunning goal-line clearance to deny Sherif.

However, the missed chance would not come back to haunt the visitor who held on for the draw and claimed a 3-2 aggregate win to advance to the final four.

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