Al Ahly's 4-1 Opening Night: A Cairo thunderbolt derails JS Kabylie in CAF Champions League
22 November 2025
What happened on the pitch
Egyptian giants Al Ahly opened their CAF Champions League group stage with a convincing 4-1 victory over Algerian side JS Kabylie at Cairo International Stadium. Mahmoud Hassan "Trezeguet" opened the scoring in the 36th minute, and Mohamed Sherif doubled the lead in the 39th.
Kabylie pulled a goal back in the 57th minute when a cross deflected off Yasser Ibrahim and the goalkeeper Mohamed El Shennawy, easing the visitors' hopes before Trezeguet sealed the win with a fourth in the 84th minute.
Imam Ashour, returning after more than two months out with illness, came on as a substitute, helped set up the third, and then scored the fourth in stoppage time (90+3).
Al Ahly moved to three points in Group B under Danish coach Ys Torup; Kabylie remained on zero points under German coach Joseph Zinbauer, at the bottom of the group.
The Egyptians will travel to face AS FAR Rabat (the Royal Moroccan Army Club) next Saturday, while Kabylie host Young Africans of Tanzania, who had beaten the Royal Army Club earlier in the day.
Overall, the match was lively and competitive, with Al Ahly's structured attacking play giving them the edge, despite some tactical glitches from Zinbauer.
First half and turning points
In the opening half, Al Ahly pressed forward through Trezeguet, but Kabylie’s defense held firm. A cross from Zizo found Dieng, whose shot flew over the bar, while Kabylie created a presentable chance from the right wing through Lahlou Akhrib.
Mohamed Sherif had a goal ruled out for offside as the first period wore on, and a late chance for Ahly was blocked by the visitors’ goalkeeper. The hosts led 1-0 at the break after a superb cross from Zizo allowed Trezeguet to convert at the far post, and then Sherif nodded home from a Ben Cherki cross moments later.
Kabylie’s center-back was briefly replaced due to an injury as the half ended with Ahly ahead.
With the restart, Kabylie sent on fresh legs as they looked to mount a comeback, but a cross deflected and turned into an own goal by Yasser Ibrahim in the 57th minute brought Kabylie back into the game.
Ahly responded by pushing for a third, and after substitute Imam Ashour provided a cross from Zizo that found Trezeguet’s boot with a precise finish in the 84th minute, the match looked sealed.
Ashour then sealed the win himself in stoppage time after collecting a pass and beating the keeper with a calm strike at 90+3 as he marked his return with a goal.
Al Ahly's victory pushed them to the top of Group B while Kabylie sat bottom. The next round will see Ahly travel to Morocco to play AS FAR Rabat, with Kabylie hosting Young Africans.
Overall, the match had tempo and tenacity, with Turup’s attacking shape winning the day but Zinbauer’s men showing resilience in spells.
Punchline 1: If this group is a classroom, Al Ahly just handed in the homework with a 4-1 smile. Punchline 2: Kabylie learned the hard way that in football, sometimes the ball finds the net off your own teammate’s pride more than your own glory.
