Friday, October 27, 2023 – 8:19 PM
Abu Dhabi, 27 October / WAM / Arab football secured at least one seat in the final of the first edition of the African Super League, with Esperance of Tunisia and Wydad Casablanca of Morocco reaching the semi-finals of the tournament, which Al-Ahly of Egypt preceded them.
The inaugural edition of the tournament witnessed 100% complete success for the Arab teams at the start, as the three teams that competed in this edition qualified from the quarter-finals to the semi-finals, while only South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns remained among all the other five teams that competed in the tournament.
Thus, Arab football will have at least one representative in the final; Given the expected confrontation between Esperance and Wydad in the semi-finals, however, Al-Ahly of Egypt may make the final purely Arab in a historic beginning for the newly created tournament, if it succeeds in passing the Sun Downs obstacle in the semi-finals.
Despite Esperance’s victory over Congolese Mazembe 3-0 and Wydad Casablanca’s victory over Enyimba of Nigeria 3-0 in the second leg of the quarter-finals yesterday, Thursday, the average scoring tally was one of the most prominent features of the quarter-finals of the tournament.
During the return round, the four matches witnessed only 8 goals, with Al-Ahly of Egypt drawing 1-1 with Simba of Tanzania and Sun Downs drawing 0-0 with Petro Atletico of Angola.
This scoring tally equaled its counterpart in the first leg, bringing the total number of goals in the quarter-finals to 16 goals, with an average of two goals per match, which is less than the offensive capabilities enjoyed by the teams participating in the tournament.
Extreme caution, and the desire of each team to succeed in this historic edition, may be a major reason for this average scoring tally.
The first-leg semi-final matches will be held the day after tomorrow, Sunday. Where Sun Downs will meet Al-Ahly and Wydad will face Esperance, while the return matches will be held next Wednesday.
Ahmed Al-Boutli/Ahmed Zahran
2023-10-27 16:22:38
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