Another CAF Super Cup title for Ahly
Al Ahly of Egypt won a record-extending fifth CAf Super Cup title Saturday by beating AC Leopards of Congo Brazzaville 2-1 near Mediterranean city Alexandria. Teenager Rami Rabiea and veteran Mohamed Barakat scored for the Cairo Red Devils after half-time at the Borg El Arab Stadium before a goal 12 minutes before time from Rudy Guelord Bhebey-Ndey triggered a tense finish. Ahly have won five of six Super Cup matches -- an annual showdown between the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup title-holders -- with the lone loss coming against Cairo neighbours Zamalek in their first appearance. Victory added a much needed $75,000 (57,000 euros) to the Ahly bank account as the security-related cancellation of domestic football last year cost all 18 top-flight Egyptian football clubs dearly. Leopards collected $50,000 (38,000 euros) and the result confirmed their transition from African nonentities to a side able to challenge the best clubs on the continent far from their base in the western Congolese city Dolisie. Bhebey-Ndey was foiled by the woodwork in the opening half before Rabiea claimed his first senior goal with a low shot and Barakat got the second by finishing off good work from Abdullah Al Saied. After Bhebey-Ndey halved the deficit, Emad Moteab struck the crossbar and fellow veteran Wael Gomaa cleared a loose ball in stoppage time after Sherif Ekrami blocked a Cesaire Gandze shot.
