Holders Ahly edge Raja in CAF CL quarter-final first leg

Two first-half goals from Amr El Solia and Hussein El Shahaat were enough as Ahly gained an early 2-1 advantage in their CAF Champions League quarter-final first leg match at the Al Salam Stadium in Cairo on Saturday night.

Raja’s Mohamed Zrida pulled one back at the end of the first 45minutes, but the holders held on to a vital home win.

In the second half, Raja looked determined to find the leveller but suffered a setback when Marouane Hadhoudi was sent off for a foul inside the box. However, El Solia missed the penalty.

Both sides will meet again in Morocco next week in the second deceived contest on April 23 with a spot in the semi-finals at stake.

Elsewhere, two-time winners Wydad Athletic Club beat home side CR Belouizdad 1-0 in the first leg of their TotalEnergies CAF Champions League quarter-final encounter on Saturday.

An early second-half goal from Guy Mbenza was enough as Wydad had the job done to give them an advantage heading into next weekend’s return tie in Casablanca.