There will be a grudge, the desire to emerge supreme and of individual battles as Yassine Khenissi and Walid Azaro face-off in a meeting of the most feared strikers in North Africa.
The Total CAF Champions League ensures for this occasion as Esperance of Tunis goes to war with Egypt’s Al Ahly.
Friday’s encounter will offer fans another chance to watch the two goal-getters prove to the world not only who’s best in North Africa, but across the continent.
Their previous face-off ended with The Red Devils of Egypt –Africa record Champions League title holders – clutching all points in the group stage of the competition.
Walid got one better over his nemesis in the first-leg scoring the lone goal that earned the Cairo-based outfit the bragging rights. The return-leg had Yassine making a statement too, boomeranging in a delectable effort to the back of Ahly’s net, upstaging Azaro in the supremacy battle though the Egyptians again ended up winning this time 2-1.
Consequently, in as much as there is more to the two-legged final, Friday’s must-watch affair will a be clarification bout with both strikers hoping to be involved in the brawl deciding who’s Africa’s best the last 12 months.
26-year-old Taha Yassine was the Tunisian Premier League’s top scorer in the 2016 and 2017 seasons, notching in twelve and fourteen (14) goals in a combined forty-three (43) appearances in the two terms.
His nine goals last campaign in fifteen (15) starts is owing to successive abrasions restricted him from blossoming.
He’d already netted twice in the new season in three cameos, collecting one booking in the process. But nothing will delight the five-time Tunisian gong winner to establish one last dominance over a man he has been for so long compared with.
Like Azaro, pace and technique are traits Khenissi doesn’t lack. The back-four of Al Ahly must have by now singled out the erstwhile CS Sfaxien as one of Esperance’s game-changers and won’t perhaps mind employing the dark art of Sergio Ramos in a bid to keep him quiet.
The Zarzaris-born will be clutching his second Champions League trophy after the first in 2011 if the Tunisians overcome their Al Ahly phobia.
17 medals in an eight-year career are more than a decent return for the Tunisian national team front-man eying soiling Red Devil fans’ dessert party.
Both Al Ahly and ES Tunis go into the cracking final having had five days rest from domestic league duties.
Moroccan international Walid Azaro could fancy carrying the day’s glory high up his shoulder. Ahly’s board knows his worth and it’s for such a reason that they shun the $10m hefty offer from clubs in the Chinese Super League –to help them reclaim the African Cup.
