Ex Esperance Ferjani Sassi: Al Ahly become a different side in the knockout stages

Former Esperance and Zamalek midfielder Ferjani Sassi believes that Al Ahly are capable of winning the 2022/23 CAF Champions League ahead of facing his former club in the semi-finals.

The Red Devils are currently preparing for a trip to Rades where they will face Esperance in the first leg of the CAF Champions League semi-finals this Friday.

Marcel Killer’s men edged past Morocco’s Rajaa Club Athletic 2-0 on aggregate to secure their place in the semi-finals for the fourth successive time.

Sassi, who played for Esperance between 2016 and 2018 before joining Zamalek, highlights Al Ahly’s ability to conquer the CAF Champions League knockout stages every year believing it may not be different this year as well.

“Whenever I speak to my close friends, I always tell them that once Al Ahly reach the knockout stages of the CAF Champions League, their performance change drastically. They become a different side and It becomes so easy for them to reach the final and win the title, Sassi speaks to Tunisian radio broadcaster, Radio IFM.

“Al Ahly advanced out of the group stages with great difficulty this season, thanks to a missed penalty from Al Hilal against Mamelodi Sundowns.”

“Esperance are going through some difficult circumstances, and lost several successive games recently, however, they are still able to reach the final,”

“I know that both teams respect each other very well. They both have the ability to be in the final,”