What Is 2019 CAF Champions League final

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2019 CAF Champions League final was contested between Tunisia's Espérance de Tunis and Egypt's Al Ahly. Espérance won 3–0 on aggregate over two legs, claiming their third title, with the first leg on November 30 and the second on December 1, 2019.

Key Facts

Espérance de Tunis won the 2019 CAF Champions League final 3–0 on aggregate.
The first leg ended in a 1–1 draw on November 30, 2019, in Cairo.
The second leg, held December 1, 2019, in Rades, saw Espérance win 2–0.
Wahbi Khazri scored the decisive goal in the second leg.
This victory gave Espérance their third CAF Champions League title in club history.

Overview

The 2019 CAF Champions League final marked a historic showdown between two African football giants: Espérance Sportive de Tunis from Tunisia and Al Ahly from Egypt. The two-leg final, held in late November and early December 2019, culminated in Espérance claiming their third continental title after a dominant aggregate performance.

This final was notable for its tightly contested first leg and a decisive second leg that shifted momentum firmly in favor of the Tunisians. As one of Africa’s most prestigious club competitions, the 2019 edition highlighted tactical discipline, regional pride, and the growing competitiveness of North African football.

First leg date: Played on November 30, 2019, at Borg El Arab Stadium in Alexandria, Egypt, ending in a 1–1 draw despite Al Ahly’s home advantage.
Second leg date: Held on December 1, 2019, at Stade Olympique de Radès in Tunisia, where Espérance secured a 2–0 victory to win 3–1 on aggregate.
Aggregate score: Espérance de Tunis won 3–1 on aggregate, marking their most convincing final performance in recent history.
Key scorer:Wahbi Khazri scored in both legs, including the opening goal in the second leg, proving instrumental in Espérance’s triumph.
Tournament significance: The win gave Espérance their third CAF Champions League title, following previous victories in 1994 and 2011.

How It Works

The CAF Champions League follows a knockout format culminating in a two-legged final, with the winner determined by aggregate goals. The 2019 final followed this structure, incorporating away goals and potential extra time or penalties if needed.

Two-legged final: The final is played over two matches, one at each team’s home stadium, with the winner decided by total goals scored across both games.
Away goals rule: In case of an aggregate tie, the team with more away goals advances; this rule applied in 2019 but was later abolished by CAF in 2021.
Extra time: If aggregate and away goals are level, 30 minutes of extra time is played after the second leg to determine a winner.
Penalty shootout: If scores remain tied after extra time, a penalty shootout decides the champion, following standard football rules.
Hosting order: The second leg is hosted by the team with the higher seeding or determined by CAF draw; in 2019, Al Ahly hosted the first leg.
Qualification for FIFA Club World Cup: The winner earns Africa’s spot in the FIFA Club World Cup, which Espérance represented in 2019.

Comparison at a Glance

A comparison of the two legs and team performances reveals key tactical and scoring differences that defined the 2019 final outcome.

Aspect	First Leg	Second Leg	Aggregate
Date	November 30, 2019	December 1, 2019	N/A
Location	Borg El Arab Stadium, Egypt	Stade Olympique de Radès, Tunisia	N/A
Result	Al Ahly 1–1 Espérance	Espérance 2–0 Al Ahly	Espérance 3–1 Al Ahly
Goalscorers	Amr El Solia (Al Ahly), Wahbi Khazri (Espérance)	Wahbi Khazri, Fakhreddine Ben Youssef (Espérance)	Khazri 2, Ben Youssef 1; El Solia 1
Attendance	Approx. 40,000	Approx. 60,000	N/A

The second leg’s outcome was heavily influenced by Espérance’s strong home support and superior midfield control. While the first leg was balanced, the return match saw Espérance dominate possession and convert chances efficiently, sealing their continental crown with composure.

Why It Matters

The 2019 CAF Champions League final had lasting implications for African club football, regional rivalries, and international representation. Espérance’s victory underscored Tunisia’s rising stature in African football and disrupted Egypt’s recent dominance in the competition.

Historic achievement: Espérance became only the third Tunisian club to win the Champions League more than twice, joining Étoile du Sahel and Club Africain.
Regional rivalry: The final intensified the Tunisia–Egypt football rivalry, especially given Al Ahly’s status as Africa’s most successful club.
Global exposure: As CAF’s representative, Espérance competed in the 2019 FIFA Club World Cup, finishing fifth after beating Monterrey.
Financial rewards: Winning the title earned Espérance a prize of $2.5 million, a significant boost for Tunisian club finances.
Youth development: The victory highlighted Espérance’s investment in local talent, with several key players developed in-house.
CAF policy influence: The final occurred just before CAF abolished the away goals rule, making this one of the last finals to use it.

This victory remains a landmark moment in Espérance’s history and a defining chapter in African club football, showcasing the continent’s competitive depth and growing tactical sophistication.