Al Ahly come from behind to beat Kitara 2-1 in CAF Confederation Cup

17.10.26 FT CAF Confederation Cup

Kitara FC

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Al Ahly SC

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Al Ahly recovered from a first half deficit to secure a 2-1 away victory over Uganda's Kitara FC on Saturday 17 October 2026 in the first leg of the CAF Confederation Cup second preliminary round at Hoima City Stadium.

Kitara took the lead through Gadafi Wahab before Omar El Saaiy equalised in the second half. Substitute Ahmed Sayed Zizo then converted a late penalty to complete the comeback and put Hussein Ammouta's side in a strong position ahead of the return leg in Cairo on 25 October.

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Kitara vs Al Ahly: How the match unfolded

Al Ahly created several early opportunities but struggled to convert their attacking pressure into goals.

Algerian striker Mounsef Bakrar came closest in the opening stages, striking the post with a header from Mohamed Magdy Afsha's delivery in the eighth minute.

Yassin Marei, Hussein El Shahat and Taher Mohamed Taher also threatened the Ugandan defence without finding the breakthrough.
Despite Al Ahly's promising start, Kitara took the lead in the 30th minute when Gadafi Wahab reached a cross from the left ahead of Marei and finished past Mohamed El Shenawy.

The Egyptian visitors attempted to respond before half time but Afsha's late effort was saved leaving Ammouta's men trailing 1-0 at the break.

Second-Half comeback: El Saei equalises before Zizo's winner

Al Ahly increased their attacking pressure after the restart, with Kitara retreating deeper to protect their advantage.

The turning point came when Ammouta made three substitutions in the 63rd minute, introducing Ahmed Sayed Zizo, Soufiane Benjdida and Tawfik Mohamed for Afsha, El Shahat and Karim Fouad.

The changes quickly paid off.

Omar El Saaiy equalised in the 66th minute following an attacking move involving substitutes Tawfik Mohamed and Zizo before Marwan Attia delivered the decisive pass into the penalty area.

El Saaiy finished powerfully to bring Al Ahly level.

The visitors continued pressing and were awarded a penalty after Akram Tawfik was fouled inside the area.

Zizo converted the spot-kick in the 81st minute sending his effort to the goalkeeper's right to complete the comeback.

Kitara threatened an equaliser from a late corner but Al Ahly survived the opportunity and held on through seven minutes of stoppage time.

The sequence of events is detailed in Al Ahly's official match report.

Tactical analysis: Ammouta's changes prove decisive

Al Ahly's performance exposed two contrasting aspects of their game.

The Egyptian side created enough opportunities to take an early lead but their finishing was inefficient. Bakrar's effort against the post and several missed chances allowed Kitara to remain competitive despite spending long periods defending.

The opening goal also revealed a defensive weakness. Marei failed to reach the cross ahead of Wahab allowing the Ugandan forward to finish from close range.

However, Ammouta's second-half adjustments changed the attacking dynamic.

The introduction of Zizo and Tawfik Mohamed provided fresh options in wide areas and helped Al Ahly move the ball into dangerous positions.

Their involvement in El Saei's equaliser demonstrated the immediate impact of those substitutions while Zizo's penalty ultimately settled the contest.

The result also highlighted Al Ahly's ability to recover from adversity away from home although their defending against crosses and efficiency in front of goal remain areas worth examining before the return leg.

Omar El Saaiy injury adds concern after victory

Despite scoring the equaliser, El Saaiy finished the evening with a fitness concern.

Al Ahly's medical chief, Dr Ahmed Gaballah confirmed that the midfielder suffered a heavy contusion and calf pain during the match.
He will undergo a recovery programme before being reassessed after the squad returns to Cairo.

No confirmed recovery timetable has been announced, making his availability for upcoming fixtures uncertain.

What happens next for Al Ahly?

Al Ahly will host Kitara in the return leg at Cairo International Stadium on Sunday 25 October with a place in the CAF Confederation Cup group stage at stake.

The 2-1 first-leg advantage means Ammouta's team will qualify with either a victory or a draw.

Al Ahly are seeking to return to the competition's group stage after beginning their campaign directly in the second preliminary round, having received a first round bye.

As previously outlined in Foot Africa's analysis of their Confederation Cup qualification path, the club entered the tournament among the seeded teams.

Having previously won the competition in 2014, Al Ahly have taken an important step towards another continental campaign but must complete the job in Cairo before turning their attention to the group stage.

Khaled Hegazy |

Editorar, en

Journaliste sportif spécialisé dans la couverture du football et la création de contenu numérique, alliant expérience éditoriale et expertise des médias sociaux.

Related teams and leagues

Kitara FC

Al Ahly SC

CAF Confederation Cup