Nigerian forward Junior Ajayi has helped Egyptian club Al Ahly Sporting Club to win a record ninth CAF Champions League title.
Junior Ajayi was on from the start when Al Ahly beat fellow Egyptian club Zamalek 2-1 in the final on November 27, 2020.
Playing from the right side of Al Ahly’s attack, the Nigerian was involved early on for his side and could have set up a goal with a fine reverse pass if not for a big miss by Hussein El Shahat.
He, however, could have done better with his marking in the lead up to Zamalek’s first-half goal.
He trailed Shikabala but couldn’t put in a fine challenge as the Egyptian forward got inside the Al Ahly box before cutting to his left for a fantastic finish.
The 24-year-old played 67 minutes of the game before he was taken off. He watched from the bench as his side scored a late winner to clinch the title.
With the match looking like it was heading into extra-time, Afsha had other ideas. He showed fantastic control, bringing a loose ball down off his knee before smashing a volley past Zamalek keeper Abu Gabal from fully 20 yards.
Having joined Al Ahly from Tunisia’s CS Sfaxien in the summer of 2016, Ajayi quickly made his mark at the Cairo-based club. He helped his side win the domestic league in his first season before scoring nine goals in his second year as they retained the title.
However, the Nigerian suffered a major blow in July 2018, when he tore his anterior cruciate ligament against Botswana’s Township Rollers in the fourth round of that year’s Champions League group stage. Junior Ajayi, who won a bronze medal with the Super Eagles at the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament Rio 2016, described this injury as one of his worst moments.
The Nigeria international is now a CAF Champions League winner. He also becomes the third Nigerian to win the title outside of Nigeria joining Emmanuel Amunike who won with Zamalek in 1993 and Willie Opara who won with Orlando Pirates in 1995.
This trophy is also Ajayi’s eighth title with Al Ahly.
