When Al Ahly and Esperance face off in the highly-anticipated second leg of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League final in Cairo on Saturday, all eyes will be on two unlikely heroes – goalkeepers Mostafa Shobeir and Amanallah Memmiche.
The first leg ended in a goalless draw in Tunisia, setting the stage for a tense and crucial match in Cairo. Both teams have relied heavily on their defences, with Shobeir and Memmiche playing crucial roles in keeping clean sheets for their respective teams.
Shobeir, at just 24 years old, has been a revelation for Al Ahly since stepping into the starting role due to an injury to captain Mohamed El Shenawy. The son of former Ahly and Egypt goalkeeper Ahmed, Shobeir has not conceded a goal in his last eight appearances.
On the other side, Memmiche, who recently turned 20, has been equally impressive for Esperance. With an outstanding record of 11 clean sheets in 12 Champions League matches, Memmiche has proven to be a formidable force in goal.
With such strong goalkeeping performances on both ends, the final promises to be a battle of wills in front of a packed stadium in Cairo. While Ahly may be considered the favorites, Esperance is not to be underestimated.
Both coaches, Marcel Koller of Ahly and Miguel Cardoso of Esperance, are wary of the challenge their opponents pose. Koller emphasized the importance of concentration, while Cardoso expressed his team’s determination to overcome the disappointment of the first leg.
As the teams prepare for the decisive encounter, fans can expect a thrilling match between two evenly matched sides. While Ahly has a tradition of success in the competition, Esperance will be hoping that Memmiche and Shobeir can lead them to an unexpected victory.
With the fate of the title hanging in the balance, the stage is set for a dramatic showdown between two of Africa’s footballing giants.
