Al Ahly emerged as 1-0 winners over Al Hilal Omdurman in the CAF Champions League quarter-final first-leg match played at the Cairo International Stadium in Egypt on Tuesday night.

As a result, the Egyptian football powerhouse took a first-leg advantage in the tie and they will carry a slender aggregate lead into the second-leg match, which will be played in Mauritania on 8 April.

Al Hilal, on the other hand, will be keen to overcome the deficit when the Sudanese giants play host to Al Ahly at their temporary home ground, Cheikha Ould Boïdiya Stadium.

The Red Eagles launched most of their attacks down the wide areas – applying pressure on Blue Wave’s full-backs and lanky centre forward,s Nejc Gradisar, and Wessam Abou Ali were the focal point of the hosts’ attack.

The deadlock was broken in the 11th minute when goalkeeper Issa Fofana parried a cross from the right into Mohamed Hani’s path and the right-back scored with a rasping shot. Al Ahly were 1-0 up at half-time.

Both teams launched attacks after the restart as Rami Ramia was denied by Fofana in the 64th minute, and at the other end, Jean Girumugisha’s attempt was saved by veteran keeper Mohamed El-Shennawy in the 66th minute.

Coach Florent Ibenge introduced Altayeb Abaker in the 88th minute as Al Hilal looked to snatch a late equalising goal. However, the reigning African champions stood firm and they emerged as 1-0 winners on the night.

Al Ahly (1) 1 (Hani 11′)

Al Hilal (0) 0

Ahly: Mohamed El Shennawy – Mohamed Hani, Rami Rabia, Achraf Dari, Yahya Attiat-Allah – Marwan Attia, Akram Tawfik – Achraf Bencharki (El Shahat 85′), Emam Ashour, Nejc Gradisar – Wessam Abou Ali (Kamal 76′).

Al-Hilal: Issa Fofana – Steven Ebuela, Taieb Ben Zitoun (Diouf 31′), Mohamed Saeed Ahmed, Khadim Diaw – Madické Kane, Walieldin Khidir, Salaheldin Adil (Raouf 64′) – Ahmed M’Bracek (Abekar 88′), Jean Claude Girumugisha, Yasir Mozamil (Coulibaly 64′).