Al Ahlibased in Cairo, and Esperancein Tunis, it is among the most successful clubs in the history of Africa’s premier club cup competition, the CAF Champions League.
Al Ahli have reached the finals many times and have 11 titles, making them the most successful club in the competition’s history. Similarly, Esperance have secured the title many times.
These successes did not happen by accident. The two clubs have financial strength, efficient management systems and large fan bases. These factors not only enhance their competitive performance, but also influence their strategic decisions Confederation of African Football level (CAF).
As a scholar of sports policy and management he has was investigated sports in north Africa and the Arab regions, I argue that the dominance of clubs such as Al Ahly and Esperance is rooted in several factors. These include the history and culture of the clubs, their fan base, financial and political support and the strength of their domestic leagues. They have some of the best infrastructure in Africa and their football development models are more focused on local domestic leagues.
This approach contrasts with the dominant model of African clubs and academies, which depend on player exports, which affects their performance in African football league tournaments. Nigeria, South Africa, Congo and Cameroon are exceptions.
Al Ahli
Al Ahli is based in Cairo, the capital of Egypt, and is often referred to as “the people’s club”. It was founded in on April 24, 1907. The club has He won the Egyptian Premier League 43 times and the Egyptian Cup 39 times. At continental level, he is the record winner of the CAF Champions League, having won it 11 times. The club’s success is underpinned by strong organizational support, extensive training facilities and a significant fan base.
Al Ahli budget it is among the highest in Africa, reported to be around EGP 2.54 billion (around US$100 million). It is able to invest in operations and facilities. The club’s home games are played at Cairo International Stadium, which has a capacity of 75,000 people, making it one of the largest and best equipped sports venues in the region. It currently has 19 players active in their respective national teams, including players representing Egypt and other countries.
Esperance
Esperance Sportive de Tunis, commonly known as Esperance, was founded in in 1919 in Tunis, capital of Tunisia. The club emerged during a period of national consciousness against the French protectorate, and became a symbol of Tunisian identity and resistance. Esperance won the Tunisian league title 30 times. The club’s colors, red and gold, are iconic in Tunisian sports. On the African stage, Esperance have won the CAF Champions League four timesconfirming its status as a premier club in African football.
Unlike their opponents in the final, Esperance have something more moderate budget, reflecting the current economic situation in Tunisia. Since his fall Ben Ali regime in 2011, which previously forced national corporations to sponsor sports clubs, public and private companies are now more reluctant to financially support football clubs.
Despite this, the club enjoys significant investment in its facilities and operations to maintain competitive standards in both domestic and continental competitions. Esperance plays at Stade Olympique de Radèswhich provides significant capacity and modern facilities conducive to high-level sports performance.
Teaching courses
There is a lot that teams from the continent can learn from Al Ahli and Esperance. The success of these two clubs is the result of meticulous planning, investment in infrastructure, a strong domestic league and a dedicated fan base. Both Egypt and Tunisia, similar to Morocco and Algeria, are known for their strong domestic leagues with competitive clubs in both the first and lower divisions. Each club has a strong local identity, contributing to the rivalry between clubs in their respective countries.
Their football model focuses on producing local talent to strengthen their domestic leagues and national teams. In addition, clubs in Egypt and Tunisia have been destinations for many top African players who see these leagues as a stepping stone to more lucrative contracts in Europe or as providing better conditions for professional contracts than in their home countries. The growth of leagues in the Arabian Peninsula, particularly the Qatar Stars League and the Saudi League (RSL), which allows clubs to recruit up to eight foreign players, is also attracting top African football talent.
This is a proven template that other teams can take and modify to fit their circumstances and build their own success. South Africa team Mamelodi Sundowns has had considerable recent success with a similar approach.
The CAF Champions League final between the two North African clubs, Al Ahly and Esperance Tunis, will be another opportunity to celebrate African football. The contest winner will get $4 million in prize money, while the runner-up will receive $2 million.
For the North African clubs, it is another chance to show their dominance in the African football leagues.