The encounter at the Hamadi Agrebi Stadium lived up to the hype, showcasing a tense tactical battle between two of Africa’s finest clubs. Algerian defender Mohamed Amine Tougai scored the decisive goal from the penalty spot midway through the second half, breaking Esperance’s long scoring drought against Al Ahly.

Despite the defeat, the Egyptian champions remain competitive, with the return leg set for Cairo International Stadium, where they will aim to overturn the deficit and maintain their hopes of continental success.

Both teams started cautiously, aware of the need to avoid early mistakes. Esperance’s Florian Danho had an early chance denied by an excellent save from Al Ahly’s goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir. In response, Mahmoud Hassan Trezeguet unleashed a powerful long-range shot, but it was kept out by Esperance’s Bechir Ben Said.

As the match unfolded, it became a tactical duel, with both sides pressing to disrupt their opponent’s rhythm. The game’s turning point came in the 73rd minute when a penalty was awarded to Esperance after Al Ahly defender Mohamed Hany handled the ball. Tougai stepped up confidently to convert, igniting celebrations among the home fans.

Al Ahly pushed hard for an equaliser, introducing fresh attacking options, but were unable to find the back of the net. Esperance nearly extended their lead late in the game but were kept at bay.

With a narrow lead, Esperance heads to Egypt, knowing the tie is still very much alive. The return leg on Saturday promises to be another gripping chapter in this storied rivalry, with a spot in the Champions League semi-finals at stake.