{"id":115876,"date":"2023-11-02T11:27:35","date_gmt":"2023-11-02T11:27:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2023\/11\/02\/sundowns-see-out-al-ahly-to-book-historic-afl-final-spot\/"},"modified":"2023-11-02T11:27:35","modified_gmt":"2023-11-02T11:27:35","slug":"sundowns-see-out-al-ahly-to-book-historic-afl-final-spot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2023\/11\/02\/sundowns-see-out-al-ahly-to-book-historic-afl-final-spot\/","title":{"rendered":"Sundowns see out Al Ahly to book historic AFL final spot"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Mamelodi Sundowns held firm against Al Ahly in Cairo on Wednesday night to complete a 1-0 aggregate victory and advance to the African Football League final, where they will face Wydad Casablanca.<\/p>\n

A goalless draw at the Cairo International Stadium sealed Sundowns\u2019 progression after last week\u2019s first-leg win, setting up an intriguing all-North African title decider.<\/p>\n

Al Ahly piled on huge pressure from the outset as Percy Tau forced a good early save before winning a penalty which Ronwen Williams saved.<\/p>\n

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The Egyptian giants quickly had the ball in the net too but Tau was denied by an offside flag after rounding the keeper.<\/p>\n

Williams then atoned for two errors by blocking a close-range effort to keep Al Ahly at bay as Sundowns survived an early storm.<\/p>\n

Tau clipped the bar shortly after as the hosts threatened to level the tie, but Sundowns held firm to reach their first continental final since 2016.<\/p>\n

Sundowns relied on brilliant defending and some fortune to overcome an Al Ahly side desperate for continental glory after recent near misses.<\/p>\n

But the South Africans showed resilience to complete the job on a tense night and etch their name into AFL folklore.<\/p>\n

Sundowns have taken a major step towards correcting their own barren spell on the continent by exhibiting consummate game management when it mattered most.<\/p>\n

The first-leg victory proved pivotal as Sundowns restricted Al Ahly before hitting the hosts on the counter through Thapelo Maseko last Sunday.<\/p>\n

That precious away goal ultimately made the difference over the two legs as Sundowns clung on for a famous aggregate victory.<\/p>\n

Now only Wydad stand between the South Africans and the $4 million prize for AFL\u2019s inaugural champions.<\/p>\n

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