Al Ahly of Egypt made it through to the African Champions League final, beating Wydad Casablanca of Morocco 3-1 in the second leg of their semi-final in Cairo to advance 5-1 on aggregate.
The Red Devils had beaten the Moroccan side 2-0 in the first leg match played in Rabat last weekend.
The victory adds another feather to coach Pitso Mosimane’s fairytale run in charge of Al Ahly since his appointment in September this year.
Mosimane made only one change, recalling Ahmed Fathi in place Ali Maaloul in a match where South African Victor Gomes was the centre referee.
Wydad’s Kazadi Kasengu was presented with the first opportunity of the game in the third minute as his powerful strike from inside the area went few centimetres away with Al Ahly custodian Mohamed El-Shennawi well beaten.
Aymane El Hassouni tried his luck in the fifth minute but the Wydad midfielder volleyed his effort well over the crossbar.
Al Ahly took the lead in the seventh minute when Mohsen combined with Amr Al-Sulaya for a classy finish.
Badi Aouk tried his luck with a free-kick from a distance but the Wydad’ striker fired his effort well over the bar.
Hussein El Shahati extended Al Ahly’s lead in the 26th minute with a stunning strike from the into the bottom corner after he was teed by Aliou Dieng from a quick counter-attack.
Brahim Najm Eddine came close to scoring for Wydad just before the halftime break but the winger fired an effort into the side-netting from close range.
The Moroccans played with more determination to cut Al Ahly’s lead in the opening 10 minutes of the second half but the Red Devils were resolute at the back.
However, it was defender Yasser Ibrahim who extended Al Ahly’s lead when he headed a corner into the net past goalkeeper Ahmed Reda Tagnaouti just before the hour mark.
After a quiet spell in the game, Zouhair El Moutaraji tried his luck from the edge of the area in the 69th minute, but the striker fired his effort straight at Mohamed El-Shennawi.
Gbagbo Magbi squandered a great chance in the 78th minute as the Ivorian international headed wide from close range.
Three minutes later Zouheir El Moutaraji pulled one back for the stars in the 82nd minute with a calm finish from inside the area.
The Moroccan giants failed to create any openings in the final stages as Al Ahly held on for the African Champions League final slot.
