Esperance reach CAF Champions league final

Esperance reached a third consecutive CAF Champions League final after a 1-0 home win over TP Mazembe from the Democratic Republic of Congo on Saturday.

Defender Mohamed Ben Mansour scored the only goal of the two-leg semi-final with 20 minutes left in Tunis, side footing into the net a flick-on following a free kick.

Success was particularly sweet for the ‘Blood and Gold’ after a humiliating 6-1 overall loss to Mazembe in the 2010 final, with the Congolese going on to become the first African finalists in the FIFA Club World Cup.

Esperance bounced back last season in Africa to win the Champions League a second time, defeating Wydad Casablanca of Morocco 1-0 overall to bridge a 17-year gap.

The Tunisians were more adventurous than the lacklustre Congolese and midfielder Karim Aouadhi was unluckly close to half-time when he headed a Youssef Msakni cross against the woodwork.

Record six-time African champions Al Ahly of Egypt are expected to win the other second leg Sunday after drawing 3-3 away to Sunshine Stars of Nigeria two weeks ago.