2007 CAF Champions League final

The 2007 CAF Champions League Final was the final of the 2007 CAF Champions League, the 43rd edition of Africa's premier club football tournament organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), and the 11th edition under the current CAF Champions League format.

2007 CAF Champions League Final
Cairo International Stadium hosted the podium where Étoile du Sahel lifted the trophy
Event2007 CAF Champions League
First leg
Date27 October 2007
VenueStade Olympique de Sousse, Sousse
RefereeRaphaël Evehe Divine (Cameroon)
Attendance25,000
Second Leg
Date9 November 2007
VenueCairo International Stadium, Cairo
RefereeAbderrahim El Arjoun (Morocco)
Attendance74,000

The final was played between Étoile du Sahel from Tunisia and Al-Ahly from Egypt. After a goal-less first leg, EsS Sahel won the second leg 3–1 in Cairo to win their first African title . As a result, ES Sahel qualified to enter the quarterfinals of the 2007 FIFA Club World Cup as the CAF representative, as well as participate in the 2008 CAF Super Cup against the winner of the 2007 CAF Confederation Cup.

Qualified teams

In the following table, finals until 1996 were in the African Cup of Champions Club era, since 1997 were in the CAF Champions League era.

Team Region Previous finals appearances (bold indicates winners)
Tunisia Étoile du Sahel UNAF (North Africa) 2004, 2005
Egypt Al Ahly UNAF (North Africa) 1982, 1983, 1987, 2001, 2005, 2006

Background

Both teams had met in the same round in 2005 when the Egyptian team won (3-0) in Cairo. Al-Ahly were the defending champions, and also the most successful club in the African Champions Cup/CAF Champions League with Zamalek, reaching a total of six finals, winning five (1982, 1987, 2001, 2005, 2006) and losing one (1983). Étoile du Sahel reached the final twice but they lost against Enyimba in 2004 and against Al Ahly in 2005. Both teams qualified as winners of their groups.

Both teams qualified for the semifinals on the second-last matchday. In the semifinals Étoile du Sahel defeated the Sudanese side Al Hilal 3–2 on aggregate, losing the first leg in Omdurman (1-2), with the second leg ending in a win (3-1). Al Ahly faced Al Iittihad from Libya and draw the first leg (0-0) away from home. In need of a win in the second leg, Al Ahly were victorious 1–0 and reached the final to face Étoile du Sahel again after 2 years.

Venues

Stade Olympique de Sousse

Stade Olympique in Sousse, Tunisia hosted the first leg.

Stade olympique de Sousse is a multi-purpose stadium in Sousse, Tunisia. It is used by the football team Étoile du Sahel, and was used for the 2004 African Cup of Nations. The stadium holds 28,000 people. It hosts within it the meetings played by the football team of the city: Étoile sportive du Sahel (ESS).

For many decades, Sousse footballers knew only the clay surfaces and knew the turf surfaces only when the stadium was inaugurated with an initial capacity of 10,000 places. It passes over the years to 15,000 seats and is then expanded again on the occasion of the 1994 African Cup of Nations with 6,000 additional seats to reach a capacity of 21,000 seats; A luminous panel is installed at the same time. The last expansion was carried out in 1999 to bring the capacity of the stadium to 28,000 seats for the 2001 Mediterranean Games, a reorganization of the gallery of honor was carried out, from a capacity of 70 to 217 places.

It hosted 1977 FIFA World Youth Championship, 1994 African Cup of Nations, 2001 Mediterranean Games and 2004 African Cup of Nations.

Cairo International Stadium

International Stadium in Cairo, Egypt hosted the second leg.

Cairo International Stadium, formerly known as Nasser Stadium, is an Olympic-standard, multi-use stadium with an all-seated capacity of 75,000.[1] The architect of the stadium is the German Werner March, who had built from 1934 to 1936 the Olympic Stadium in Berlin. Before becoming an all seater stadium, it had the ability to hold over 100,000 spectators, reaching a record of 120,000. It is the foremost Olympic-standard facility befitting the role of Cairo, Egypt as the center of events in the region. It is also the 69th largest stadium in the world. Located in Nasr City; a suburb north east of Cairo, it was completed in 1960, and was inaugurated by President Gamal Abd El Nasser on 23 July that year, the eighth anniversary of the Egyptian Revolution of 1952. Zamalek SC currently use the Petro Sport Stadium for most of their home games and Al Ahly use Al Salam Stadium for most of their home games.

The Stadium is located about 10 km west of Cairo International Airport and about 10 km[2] (30 min) from downtown Cairo.

In 2005, in preparation for the 2006 African Cup of Nations it underwent a major renovation, and was brought up to 21st century world standard along with all its multi-game Olympic facilities which did not enable the same two teams to play the 2005 final on this stadium.

Road to final

Tunisia Étoile du Sahel Round Egypt Al-Ahly
Opponent Agg. 1st leg 2nd leg Qualifying rounds Opponent Agg. 1st leg 2nd leg
Guinea Fello Star 5–1 1–0 (A) 4–1 (H) First round Zimbabwe Highlanders 2–0 0–0 (A) 2–0 (H)
Togo Maranatha 3–0 0–0 (A) 3–0 (H) Second round South Africa Mamelodi Sundowns 4–2 2–2 (A) 2–0 (H)
Opponent Result Group stage Opponent Result
Morocco FAR Rabat 1–0 (A) Matchday 1 Sudan Al-Hilal 2–0 (H)
Libya Al-Ittihad 0–0 (H) Matchday 2 Ivory Coast ASEC Mimosas 1–0 (A)
Algeria JS Kabylie 3–0 (H) Matchday 3 Tunisia Espérance de Tunis 3–0 (H)
Algeria JS Kabylie 2–0 (A) Matchday 4 Tunisia Espérance de Tunis 0–1 (A)
Morocco FAR Rabat 0–0 (H) Matchday 5 Sudan Al-Hilal 0–3 (A)
Libya Al-Ittihad 0–2 (A) Matchday 6 Ivory Coast ASEC Mimosas 2–0 (H)

Group A Winner
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Tunisia Étoile du Sahel 6 3 2 1 6 2 +4 8 Advance to knockout stage
2 Libya Al-Ittihad 6 3 1 2 6 4 +2 7
3 Algeria JS Kabylie 6 2 1 3 6 8 2 5
4 Morocco FAR Rabat 6 1 2 3 2 6 4 4
Source: CAF
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
Final standings

Group B Winner
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Egypt Al Ahly SC 6 4 0 2 8 4 +4 8 Advance to knockout stage
2 Sudan Al-Hilal 6 3 1 2 8 5 +3 7
3 Ivory Coast ASEC Mimosas 6 2 1 3 4 5 1 5
4 Tunisia Espérance de Tunis 6 1 2 3 2 8 6 4
Source: CAF
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
Opponent Agg. 1st leg 2nd leg Knock-out stage Opponent Agg. 1st leg 2nd leg
Sudan Al Hilal 4–3 1–2 (A) 3–1 (H) Semifinals Libya Al Ittihad 1–0 0–0 (A) 1–0 (H)

Format

The final was decided over two legs, with aggregate goals used to determine the winner. If the sides were level on aggregate after the second leg, the away goals rule would have been applied, and if still level, the tie would have proceeded directly to a penalty shootout (no extra time is played).[3]

Matches

First leg

Étoile du Sahel Tunisia0–0Egypt Al-Ahly
Report
Attendance: 25,000
ES Sahel
Al Ahly
ES Sahel:
GK1Tunisia Aymen Mathlouthi
DF13Tunisia Saber Ben FrejYellow card 30'
DF4Tunisia Radhouene Felhi
DF6Tunisia Saïf GhezalYellow card 72'
DF10Tunisia Mehdi MeriahRed card 79'
MF19Tunisia Mohamed Ali Nafkha
MF24Ghana Moussa Narry
MF25Benin Mouritala Ogunbiyidownward-facing red arrow 84'
MF5Tunisia Mejdi TraouiYellow carddownward-facing red arrow 66'
MF14Cape Verde Gilson Silva
FW21Tunisia Amine ChermitiYellow card 24'
Substitutes:
FW16Ghana Sadat Bukariupward-facing green arrow 66'
DF4Tunisia Hatem Bejaouiupward-facing green arrow 84'
Manager:
France Bertrand Marchand
Al Ahly:
GK1Egypt Essam El Hadary
DF4Egypt Emad El-Nahhas
DF26Egypt Wael Gomaa
DF7Egypt Shady Mohamed
DF2Egypt Islam El-Shaterdownward-facing red arrow 90'
DF25Egypt Hossam Ashour
MF17Tunisia Anis Boujelbene
MF5Egypt Ahmad El-SayedYellow card 12'
MF8Egypt Mohamed BarakatYellow card 18'
MF22Egypt Mohamed Aboutrikadownward-facing red arrow 87'
FW23Angola FlávioYellow card 82'downward-facing red arrow 84'
Substitutes:
MF9Egypt Emad Metebupward-facing green arrow 84'
FW6Egypt Ahmed Sedikupward-facing green arrow 87'
MF18Egypt Osama Hosnyupward-facing green arrow 90'
Manager:
Portugal Manuel José

Assistant referees:
Efarist Mikwande (Cameroon)
Zogo Ndang (Cameroon)
Fourth official:
Fathi Amina (Tunisia)

Second leg

Al Ahly Egypt1–3Tunisia Étoile du Sahel
El-Nahhas 48' Report Gharbi 44'
Chermiti 90+3'
Narry 90+5'
Al Ahly
ES Sahel
Al Ahly:
GK1Egypt Essam El Hadary
DF4Egypt Emad El-NahhasRed card 61'
DF7Egypt Shady Mohamed
MF5Egypt Ahmad El-Sayed
DF2Egypt Islam El-Shaterdownward-facing red arrow 46'
DF12Angola Gilbertodownward-facing red arrow 75'
DF25Egypt Hossam Ashour
MF17Tunisia Anis Boujelbenedownward-facing red arrow 66'
MF22Egypt Mohamed Aboutrika
MF9Egypt Emad Meteb
FW23Angola Flávio
Substitutes:
MF9Egypt Hassan Mostafaupward-facing green arrow 46'
FW6Egypt Mohamed Sedikupward-facing green arrow 66'
MF18Egypt Ahmed Qenawiupward-facing green arrow 75'
Manager:
Portugal Manuel José
ES Sahel:
GK1Tunisia Aymen MathlouthiYellow card
DF13Tunisia Saber Ben FrejYellow card
DF4Tunisia Radhouene FelhiYellow card
DF5Tunisia Ammar Jemal
DF6Tunisia Hatem Bejaoui
MF24Ghana Moussa Narry
DF19Tunisia Mohamed Ali Nafkha
MF25Benin Mouritala Ogunbiyidownward-facing red arrow 84'
MF10Tunisia Afouène Gharbidownward-facing red arrow 66'
MF7Cape Verde Gilson Silvadownward-facing red arrow 87'
FW27Tunisia Amine Chermiti
Substitutes:
FW18Tunisia Mejdi TraouiYellow cardupward-facing green arrow 66'
MF26Tunisia Bassem Ben Nasserupward-facing green arrow 84'
MF15Tunisia Mahmoud Khemiriupward-facing green arrow 87'
Manager:
France Bertrand Marchand

Assistant referees:
Ayoub Mohamed (Morocco)
Radhouan Achik (Morocco)
Fourth official:
Walid Ibrahim (Egypt)

Notes and references

  1. "International Cairo Stadium". www.cairo-stadium.org.eg. Retrieved 2017-02-11.
  2. "Distance & Directions from Cairo Stadium to Downtown". Google. Archived from the original on July 11, 2012. Retrieved 9 November 2011.
  3. Regulations of the CAF Champions League
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