African Champions Ahly Stay Top After Draw in Algeria

Ahly's Egyptian midfielder Hussein el-Shahat (C) celebrates with the trophy after winning the CAF Champions League final football match between Morocco's Wydad AC and Egypt's Al Ahly in Casablanca on June 11, 2023. © Fadel Senna, AFP
Ahly's Egyptian midfielder Hussein el-Shahat (C) celebrates with the trophy after winning the CAF Champions League final football match between Morocco's Wydad AC and Egypt's Al Ahly in Casablanca on June 11, 2023. © Fadel Senna, AFP
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African Champions Ahly Stay Top After Draw in Algeria

Ahly's Egyptian midfielder Hussein el-Shahat (C) celebrates with the trophy after winning the CAF Champions League final football match between Morocco's Wydad AC and Egypt's Al Ahly in Casablanca on June 11, 2023. © Fadel Senna, AFP
Ahly's Egyptian midfielder Hussein el-Shahat (C) celebrates with the trophy after winning the CAF Champions League final football match between Morocco's Wydad AC and Egypt's Al Ahly in Casablanca on June 11, 2023. © Fadel Senna, AFP

Record 11-time title-holders Al Ahly of Egypt and Chabab Belouizdad of Algeria on Friday drew 0-0 for the second time in Group D of the CAF Champions League.

The first goalless stalemate was in Cairo last December and the return match in Algiers, scheduled for the same month, had to be postponed as Ahly were competing in the Club World Cup.

Defending champions Ahly remain top of the table with six points, Belouizdad and Young Africans of Tanzania have five each and Medeama of Ghana four after four rounds, AFP reported.

Each club has one home and one away fixture to come and the group winners and runners-up qualify for the quarter-finals.

Belouizdad full-back Houcine Benayada came closest to breaking the deadlock in the Algerian capital, hitting the post on 50 minutes with a free-kick that took a deflection.

Matchday five will be staged on February 23 and 24 with Ahly and Belouizdad away to Medeama and Young Africans respectively.



Atalanta Boss Gasperini Blasts Lookman After Penalty Miss in Brugge Loss 

Football - Champions League - Knockout Phase Playoff - Second Leg - Atalanta v Club Brugge - Gewiss Stadium, Bergamo, Italy - February 18, 2025 Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini before the match. (Reuters)
Football - Champions League - Knockout Phase Playoff - Second Leg - Atalanta v Club Brugge - Gewiss Stadium, Bergamo, Italy - February 18, 2025 Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini before the match. (Reuters)
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Atalanta Boss Gasperini Blasts Lookman After Penalty Miss in Brugge Loss 

Football - Champions League - Knockout Phase Playoff - Second Leg - Atalanta v Club Brugge - Gewiss Stadium, Bergamo, Italy - February 18, 2025 Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini before the match. (Reuters)
Football - Champions League - Knockout Phase Playoff - Second Leg - Atalanta v Club Brugge - Gewiss Stadium, Bergamo, Italy - February 18, 2025 Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini before the match. (Reuters)

Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini said his striker Ademola Lookman is "one of the worst penalty takers he has ever seen" after his miss from the spot hindered a comeback in their home 3-1 defeat to Club Brugge in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Lookman pulled back one goal early in the second half after Brugge took a 3-0 halftime lead, but then had a penalty saved by goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, as the Serie A side were knocked out with a 5-2 aggregate defeat.

Gasperini singled out the Nigeria international for criticism, adding offensive midfielder Charles De Ketelaere or striker Mateo Retegui should have taken the penalty instead.

"Lookman was not supposed to take that penalty, he is one of the worst penalty takers I've ever seen," the Italian manager told a post-match press conference.

"He has a frankly terrible record even in training, he converts very few of them. Retegui and De Ketelaere were there, but Lookman in a moment of enthusiasm after scoring decided to take the ball and that was a gesture I did not appreciate at all."

Gasperini also criticized Atalanta captain Rafael Toloi, who was shown a straight red card for a shove on Maxim De Cuyper after an argument over a throw-in.

"That was an ugly incident and we must never lose our heads," he said.

"Atalanta must leave the Champions League with dignity, having played great games against the likes of Real Madrid, Arsenal and Barcelona."

Atalanta, third in Serie A, became the second Italian side to exit the Champions League, following AC Milan, who drew 1-1 with Feyenoord, losing 2-1 on aggregate.