2023/24 CAF Champions League: Espérance edge past Sundowns in Pretoria to book final place
Pretoria, South Africa (PANA) - Tunisian giants Espérance Sportive de Tunis reached the final of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League when they beat South African club Mamelodi Sundowns 1-0 in Pretoria the second-leg of the semi-final in Pretoria on Friday night.
Having ground out a 1-0 first leg win in Tunisia, they repeated the same scoreline in the return fixture in Pretoria.
Raed Bouchniba's 56th minute strike ultimately proved the difference as Espérance withstood a barrage of Sundowns pressure to book their place in next month's final.
For Sundowns, it was a case of so near yet so far as they came agonisingly close to forcing the tie into extra time, with both Thembinkosi Lorch and Themba Zwane striking the woodwork in a frantic second half assault.
But Espérance, steered by the impressive Amanallah Memmich in goal, held firm to continue their dream of landing a third Champions League crown in seven years.
While crestfallen Sundowns must lick their wounds, for Espérance and their veteran coach, Miguel Cardoso, the focus switches to stopping Al Ahly's bid for an unprecedented treble.
The two African giants will go head-to-head in two legs of the mouthwatering final for continental royalty next month.
Al Ahly needed a late fight to defeat Mazembe and reach yet another TotalEnergies CAF Champions League final, but will be wary of the threat posed by Espérance.
-0- PANA MA 27April2024
