Entente Sportive Setif of Algeria were true to form book on Saturday as they became the first Algerian club to win the African Super Cup, beating Egypt’s Al Ahly.
Setif won 6-5 on penalty kicks after the match had ended 1-1 in normal time in Blida, 45 kilometres south of Algiers, and in front of a strong security presence.
The African Champions League winners were leading 1-0 after Abdelmalek Ziaya’s 72nd minute strike, but Al Ahly struck a dramatic equaliser four minutes into stoppage time.
The Confederation Cup holders made it 1-1 through veteran striker, Emad Meteb, with what was almost the last kick of the game.
The home side then won the tie 6-5 on penalties after Ahly’s Bassem Ali missed his kick.
Ahly have won the one-off match, played between the winners of the Champions League and the Confederation Cup holders, a record six times.
But Setif went into the game as favourites because the match was staged in Blida.
And in the past, home advantage had proved crucial in most of the annual games.
Since the Champions League winners began hosting the fixture in 1996, 17 of the 19 matches had ended in home victories.
Only 1,000 of the 25,000 tickets for the showdown at Stade Mustapha Tchaker, 45 kilometres south of Algiers, went to Ahly supporters.
But it is thought the stadium was far from full, after bad weather made conditions difficult for supporters.
This is a first success for Algeria in a match won nine times by Egyptian clubs.
The Super Cup did not exist when the “Black Eagles” were previously African champions in 1988.
And this win has capped a hugely successful period for the Algerian club.
Champions League success had led to Setif being voted CAF Club of the Year, while club handler, Kheireddine Madoui, was voted Coach of the Year.
Two of their players, El-Hedi Belameiri and Akram Djahnit, also finished runners-up in the Africa-based Footballer of the Year award.
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