Egyptian club Al Ahly produced their best international performance for years to thump Tunisian side Esperance 3-0 at the weekend in matchday 1 of the CAF Confederation Cup.
Abdallah Said scored in each half of a Group A showdown between two of the most successful and popular African football clubs.
And substitute Moamen Zakaria completed the rout at the Suez Army Stadium with a stoppage-time third goal for the title-holders.
Said bagged his double with unstoppable shots past goalkeeper Moez Ben Cherifia after 19 and 58 minutes and Zakaria netted four minutes into additional time.
Even the second half red-carding of captain Hossam Ashour for elbowing an opponent off the ball did not disrupt the rampant Cairo giants.
The handsome victory propelled Ahly, winners of a record 19 CAF titles, to the top of the table on goal difference from another Tunisian club, Etoile Sahel.
Etoile, the only club to win all five CAF competitions, edged Malian club Stade Malien 1-0 in Sousse through a second-half goal from Baghdad Bounedjah.
Both Group B games delivered 1-0 victories for former African champions.
A late Abdoulaye Cisse goal earned Cairo’s other major club, Zamalek, victory over another Tunisian side, CS Sfaxien, while Happy Jele scored as Orlando Pirates of South Africa won away to AC Leopards of Republic of Congo in Dolisie.
Ahly coach Fathy Mabrouk hailed his team after an unexpectedly wide winning margin in a game staged behind closed doors because of ongoing post-Arab Spring security concerns.
“We played a very good game, both physically and technically,” said the successor to Spaniard Juan Carlos Garrido.
The European was sacked when Ahly failed to qualify for the CAF Champions League group stage and were demoted to the second-tier Confederation Cup.
“We studied Esperance well and the players did what I told them to do.
“To start the group stage with a victory like this gives us confidence to defend our title in style.
“I have to praise my players, especially Abdallah Said, who was awesome. He is an exceptional footballer.”
Playing under French coach Jose Anigo for the first time, Esperance lacked seven regulars due to captain Oussama Darragi disappearing, injuries, suspensions and a bizarre airport incident.
Ahmed Akaichi was sent home as the squad were about to board a plane to Egypt with conflicting reports about the reason.
The official line was “disciplinary reasons” after the footballer argued with a supporter at a training session.
But some media believe Akaichi was being punished for refusing to extend his contract.
Matchday 2 fixtures are scheduled for July 10-12.
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The biog
Siblings: five brothers and one sister
Education: Bachelors in Political Science at the University of Minnesota
Interests: Swimming, tennis and the gym
Favourite place: UAE
Favourite packet food on the trip: pasta primavera
What he did to pass the time during the trip: listen to audio books
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
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THE BIO
Occupation: Specialised chief medical laboratory technologist
Age: 78
Favourite destination: Always Al Ain “Dar Al Zain”
Hobbies: his work - “ the thing which I am most passionate for and which occupied all my time in the morning and evening from 1963 to 2019”
Other hobbies: football
Favorite football club: Al Ain Sports Club
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
UAE v Ireland
1st ODI, UAE win by 6 wickets
2nd ODI, January 12
3rd ODI, January 14
4th ODI, January 16
Results
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,200m. Winner: Majd Al Megirat, Sam Hitchcott (jockey), Ahmed Al Shehhi (trainer)
5.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m. Winner: Dassan Da, Patrick Cosgrave, Helal Al Alawi
6pm: Abu Dhabi Fillies Classic Prestige (PA) Dh110,000 (T) 1,400m. Winner: Heba Al Wathba, Richard Mullen, Jean de Roualle
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Colts Classic Prestige (PA) Dh110,000 (T) 1,400m. Winner: Hameem, Adrie de Vries, Abdallah Al Hammadi
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 2,200m. Winner: Jawal Al Reef, Richard Mullen, Ahmed Al Mehairbi
Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 (T) 2,200m. Winner: Harbour Spirit, Adrie de Vries, Jaber Ramadhan.
Trump v Khan
2016: Feud begins after Khan criticised Trump’s proposed Muslim travel ban to US
2017: Trump criticises Khan’s ‘no reason to be alarmed’ response to London Bridge terror attacks
2019: Trump calls Khan a “stone cold loser” before first state visit
2019: Trump tweets about “Khan’s Londonistan”, calling him “a national disgrace”
2022: Khan’s office attributes rise in Islamophobic abuse against the major to hostility stoked during Trump’s presidency
July 2025 During a golfing trip to Scotland, Trump calls Khan “a nasty person”
Sept 2025 Trump blames Khan for London’s “stabbings and the dirt and the filth”.
Dec 2025 Trump suggests migrants got Khan elected, calls him a “horrible, vicious, disgusting mayor”
Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance: the specs
Engine: 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 plus rear-mounted electric motor
Power: 843hp at N/A rpm
Torque: 1470Nm N/A rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.6L/100km
On sale: October to December
Price: From Dh875,000 (estimate)
