'Men on the field' secured crucial win over Ahly - Belouizdad coach Amrani
Chabab Belouizdad's head coach, Abdelkader Amrani, has lauded his team's resilience following their 1-0 victory over Al Ahly in the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League.
Noufel Khacef’s strike in the first minute of stoppage time on Friday night sealed the Group C win, ending Al Ahly’s remarkable 27-match unbeaten streak in the competition.
The result marked Belouizdad’s first-ever win over the Egyptian champions in their six encounters and revitalized their chances in the group.
Belouizdad's win has revitalized their campaign, moving them up to second place in Group D with six points, just behind Al Ahly, who remain on seven points.
This triumph comes on the heels of a heavy 6-1 defeat to the same opponents in Cairo, a loss Amrani described as "the worst match I’ve ever coached."
Reflecting on the challenging week leading up to the rematch, Amrani revealed, "I had a very bad week; I didn't leave my room since the first leg, and I was looking for real solutions to restore our team's reputation and win the match."
His dedication paid off as Belouizdad managed to control the game from the start, maintaining a clean sheet and securing a crucial three points.
Amrani expressed his gratitude towards his players, stating, "I thank the players for the performance they gave today. They were men on the field and deserved to win."
He emphasized the importance of this victory in keeping their qualification hopes alive, noting, "The real goal against Al Ahly was to get the three points, as staying in the race to qualify for the next round is more important than showing a reaction after the Cairo defeat."
The coach also acknowledged the impact of recent criticism, admitting, "It is true that the criticism hurt me a lot, but I always accept it."
He stressed that the victory was a collective achievement, stating, "Today's victory is a victory for Chabab Belouizdad, not for Abdelkader Amrani."
Looking ahead, Amrani and his squad will aim to build on this momentum as they prepare for the remaining group stage matches, with the objective of securing a spot in the quarter-finals of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League.