عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Sports

Esperance, Ahly Resume Great African Club Rivalry in Final

Ahly's Egyptian defender #24 Mohamed Abdelmonem celebrates with the fans after scoring his team's first goal during the second leg of the CAF Champions League football match between Egypt's Al-Ahly and Congo's TP Mazembe at at the Cairo International Stadium in Cairo on April 26, 2024. (Photo by Khaled DESOUKI / AFP)
Ahly's Egyptian defender #24 Mohamed Abdelmonem celebrates with the fans after scoring his team's first goal during the second leg of the CAF Champions League football match between Egypt's Al-Ahly and Congo's TP Mazembe at at the Cairo International Stadium in Cairo on April 26, 2024. (Photo by Khaled DESOUKI / AFP)
TT
TT

Esperance, Ahly Resume Great African Club Rivalry in Final

Ahly's Egyptian defender #24 Mohamed Abdelmonem celebrates with the fans after scoring his team's first goal during the second leg of the CAF Champions League football match between Egypt's Al-Ahly and Congo's TP Mazembe at at the Cairo International Stadium in Cairo on April 26, 2024. (Photo by Khaled DESOUKI / AFP)
Ahly's Egyptian defender #24 Mohamed Abdelmonem celebrates with the fans after scoring his team's first goal during the second leg of the CAF Champions League football match between Egypt's Al-Ahly and Congo's TP Mazembe at at the Cairo International Stadium in Cairo on April 26, 2024. (Photo by Khaled DESOUKI / AFP)

Episode 23 of a great African club rivalry unfolds in Tunisia on Saturday when Esperance host Egyptian visitors Al Ahly in the CAF Champions League final first leg.

Ahly have won 10 and drawn eight of their 22 meetings in the premier continental competition since first clashing 34 years ago, and are appearing in a record fifth straight final.

But while the Cairo Red Devils are favorites to lift the trophy a record-extending 12th time after an unbeaten 12-game march to the title decider, Esperance have also impressed, Agence France Presse reported.

The Blood and Gold are back in the final for the first time since completing back-to-back Champions League triumphs in 2019 and, like Ahly, boast a formidable defense.

"Every Champions League opponent raises their game against Ahly. We are the most successful club in Africa so everybody wants to beat us," Swiss coach Marcel Koller told reporters.

Ahly have won 24 African titles in four competitions, 13 more than their closest rivals, compatriots Zamalek and TP Mazembe from the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Both finalists have kept 11 clean sheets in 12 qualifying, group and knockout matches, with goalkeepers Mostafa Shobeir of Ahly and Amanallah Memmiche of Esperance the unexpected stars.

A son of former Ahly goalkeeper Ahmed Shobeir, Mostafa was promoted after captain Mohamed El Shenawy suffered a shoulder injury during the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations.

Shobeir rose to the occasion and has not conceded in six Champions League matches, leaving Koller with a selection headache.

Does he continue with Shobeir or recall fit-again El Shenawy after both were included in a 23-man squad?

- Young goalkeeper stars -

Esperance began this Champions League campaign with veteran goalkeeper Moez Ben Cherifia captaining the side, but he has dropped to the bench with 20-year-old Memmiche preferred.

Promoted when a teenager, Memmiche has not conceded in his last eight Champions League matches as Esperance seek a fifth title.

Where Ahly have a clear advantage over Esperance is scoring, netting 19 goals en route to the final compared with a meagre nine by their rivals.

There have been contributions from 11 players to the Ahly total with Hussein El Shahat (five) and Mahmoud Kahraba (four) the leading scorers.

Despite topping the Champions League goals chart, however, El Shahat was an unused substitute in the 3-0 semi-final, second-leg victory over Mazembe.

South African winger Percy Tau will hope to add to his solitary goal in the African campaign this season.

A returnee to the Ahly squad is Mali midfielder Aliou Dieng, back in contention after a three-month absence due to a knee injury.

Esperance coach Miguel Cardoso says reaching the final is the "biggest achievement of my career". He previously struggled at clubs in France, Spain, Greece and his native Portugal.

He took over this January after two Tunisians, 2018 and 2019 Champions League winner Mouin Chaabani and Tarek Thabet, had short spells in charge.

Yan Sasse, plucked from the obscurity of Wellington Phoenix reserves in New Zealand, has scored three Champions League goals, but fellow Brazilian Rodrigo Rodrigues has yet to get off the mark.

Other potential starters include center-back Mohamed Tougai and winger Houssam Ghacha from Algeria and Togo midfielder Roger Aholou.

Most Viewed

 
 
Sports

Asharq Al-Awsat Reveals Saudi FA Financials With SAR 88 Million Surplus

Asharq Al-Awsat Reveals Saudi FA Financials With SAR 88 Million Surplus
TT
TT

Asharq Al-Awsat Reveals Saudi FA Financials With SAR 88 Million Surplus

Asharq Al-Awsat Reveals Saudi FA Financials With SAR 88 Million Surplus

The Saudi Arabian Football Federation is set to approve its consolidated financial statements for the period from July 1, 2024 to December 31, 2025, at its general assembly meeting scheduled for May 18 in Riyadh. The move reflects the close of the financial cycle and entry into the formal approval phase.

Asharq Al-Awsat has obtained detailed figures from those statements through its sources. Total revenue reached SAR 2.599 billion (about $693.1 million), compared with expenditures of SAR 2.511 billion (around $669.6 million), generating a surplus of SAR 88.4 million (approximately $23.6 million). The outcome points to balanced finances despite elevated spending levels.

Competition-related spending topped the expenditure categories at SAR 717 million (about $191.2 million). This figure covers the organization of domestic competitions as well as hosting regional, continental, and international tournaments. It also includes club support and prize money totaling SAR 246 million (around $65.6 million), underscoring the scale of investment in domestic competitions.

For national teams, the federation reported spending of roughly SAR 467 million (about $124.5 million), while allocations for referees reached SAR 210 million (around $56 million), reflecting a clear push to strengthen technical and organizational standards and develop officiating and training camps.

On the human resources front, total salaries and incentives for federation staff and all Saudi national teams, men’s and women’s (19 teams), amounted to SAR 543 million (about $144.8 million).

In terms of operating revenue, sponsorship agreements, broadcasting rights, and matchday income generated SAR 256 million (around $68.3 million). Meanwhile, travel and transportation costs for federation personnel and national teams totaled SAR 229 million (about $61.1 million), a category tied to the domestic and international scope of activities.

As for the general assembly agenda, it includes announcing the session and confirming its formation in line with the statutes, approving the agenda, and delivering the president’s address. This will be followed by the appointment of three delegates to review the meeting minutes, the designation of independent auditors, and ratification of the previous meeting’s minutes.

The assembly will also review the president’s report on activities since the last meeting, before presenting the external auditor’s report and approving the consolidated financial statements, including the statement of financial position and activities report.

Members will then vote on proposed amendments to regulations and standing orders, culminating in the appointment of an independent external auditor based on a board recommendation, in a session with a distinctly regulatory and financial focus that will shape the next phase.

Sports

Top Tennis Players Slam Roland Garros Prize Money, Citing a Shrinking Share of Tournament Revenue

Tennis - Madrid Open - Park Manzanares, Madrid, Spain - April 28, 2026 Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka reacts during her quarterfinal match against Hailey Baptiste of the US. (Reuters)
Tennis - Madrid Open - Park Manzanares, Madrid, Spain - April 28, 2026 Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka reacts during her quarterfinal match against Hailey Baptiste of the US. (Reuters)
TT
TT

Top Tennis Players Slam Roland Garros Prize Money, Citing a Shrinking Share of Tournament Revenue

Tennis - Madrid Open - Park Manzanares, Madrid, Spain - April 28, 2026 Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka reacts during her quarterfinal match against Hailey Baptiste of the US. (Reuters)
Tennis - Madrid Open - Park Manzanares, Madrid, Spain - April 28, 2026 Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka reacts during her quarterfinal match against Hailey Baptiste of the US. (Reuters)

A group of leading players including Novak Djokovic, Jannik Sinner, Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff have expressed “their deep disappointment” at the level on prize money at Roland Garros amid a lingering dispute with Grand Slam tournament organizers.

The clay-court Grand Slam event starts later this month in western Paris. The players said they have other demands that have not been addressed by officials, including better representation, health and pensions.

The players' call came after French Open organizers announced last month the Roland Garros prize money has increased by about 10% for an overall pot of 61.7 million euros ($72.1 million), with the total amount up 5.3 million euros from last year.

“Players’ share of Roland Garros tournament revenue has declined from 15.5% in 2024 to 14.9% projected in 2026,” the group of players responded in a statement on Monday.

Play begins on May 24 at Roland Garros. Men’s and women’s singles champions each receive 2.8 million euros and the runners-up 1.4 million euros. Semifinalists earn 750,000 euros and first round losers get 87,000 euros. Men’s and women’s doubles winners pocket 600,000 euros and the mixed doubles champions get 122,000 euros.

But the statement said “the underlying figures tell a very different story,” claiming that players receive a declining share of the value they contribute to generate.

“According to tournament officials, Roland Garros generated 395 million euros in revenue in 2025, a 14% year-on-year increase, yet prize money rose by just 5.4%, reducing players’ share of revenue to 14.3%,” they said. “With estimated revenues of over 400 million euros for this year’s tournament, prize money as a percentage of revenue will likely still be less than 15%, far short of the 22% that players have requested to bring the Grand Slams into line with the ATP and WTA Combined 1000 events.”

French Open organizers did not immediately respond to a request for comments.

The same group of 20 players had already signed a letter sent to the heads of the four Grand Slam tournaments last year, seeking more prize money and a greater say in what they called “decisions that directly impact us.”

They said in their latest statement they remain “united in their desire to see meaningful progress, both in terms of fair financial distribution and in how the sport is governed.”

They insisted they have not received any response to their proposals on welfare, including pension and long-term health, adding that no progress has been made “on fair and transparent player representation within Grand Slam decision-making.”

“While other major international sports are modernizing governance, aligning stakeholders, and building long-term value, the Grand Slams remain resistant to change,” they said. “The absence of player consultation and the continued lack of investment in player welfare reflect a system that does not adequately represent the interests of those who are central to the sport’s success.”

Sports

Russell Confident Momentum Will Swing Back His Way from Antonelli

Fourth placed George Russell of Great Britain and Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team celebrates with his team during the F1 Grand Prix of Miami at Miami International Autodrome on May 03, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Getty Images/AFP)
Fourth placed George Russell of Great Britain and Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team celebrates with his team during the F1 Grand Prix of Miami at Miami International Autodrome on May 03, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Getty Images/AFP)
TT
TT

Russell Confident Momentum Will Swing Back His Way from Antonelli

Fourth placed George Russell of Great Britain and Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team celebrates with his team during the F1 Grand Prix of Miami at Miami International Autodrome on May 03, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Getty Images/AFP)
Fourth placed George Russell of Great Britain and Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team celebrates with his team during the F1 Grand Prix of Miami at Miami International Autodrome on May 03, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Getty Images/AFP)

George Russell lost ‌his tag of Formula One title favorite to Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli on Sunday but remained confident the momentum would swing back his way.

The Briton had started the season as frontrunner for the championship, and won the opener in Australia, but after three wins in a row for the Italian is now 20 points adrift.

"Clearly Kimi’s in ‌a ⁠really great place ⁠at the moment and momentum is with him," said Russell, who finished fourth at the Hard Rock Stadium.

"But I’ve got enough experience myself in championships I’ve won on how momentum swings throughout a year and also looking at the ⁠championship last year.

“To be honest, I’m ‌not even considering it. ‌I just want to get back onto the ‌top step of the podium."

The next race is ‌Canada and Russell won from pole with fastest lap in Montreal last year while Antonelli was third.

Russell was also on pole there in 2024, before ‌Antonelli was a Formula One driver, and finished third.

Antonelli, at 19 the youngest ⁠leader ⁠of the Formula One world championship, said he was surprised to be where he was.

"It’s still a very long season and there’s so many things that can change. George for sure is going to be super strong in Canada, he’s always been very strong there, so he’s for sure going to be back at the top," said the Italian.

"But I think I feel much more comfortable in the car, much more in control as well."