Expert opinion: could playing behind closed doors hurt Al Ahly against Espérance? | OneFootball

It was expected that Al Ahly would be sanctioned after the incidents caused by their supporters during the match against Moroccan side AS FAR on Matchday 6 of the CAF Champions League group stage. But the debate within the club and in Egyptian media was about the nature of the punishment: would CAF settle for a fine, since the incident involved bottles being thrown onto the pitch, or would they go as far as banning fans from attending?In reality, everything pointed to Al Ahly not escaping a severe punishment, possibly up to at least one match behind closed doors. Some even drew parallels with what happened during the final of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2025), which was marred by incidents that led to heavy sanctions, making such a scenario very likely.The impact of these sanctions could hit Al Ahly hard, especially as the club is currently struggling on the pitch. Domestically, they drew in their last outing against ZED and are set to face Al Mokawloon on Thursday, March 5, in the Egyptian Premier League.There's also a sense of dissatisfaction surrounding the work of Danish coach Jess Thorup, to the extent that rumors are already circulating about a possible sacking. However, in reality, the club's management can't easily make such a decision, especially since Al Ahly has already parted ways with two former coaches, German Koller and Spaniard Riveiro, and is still paying their salaries.Thus, the absence of supporters during a crucial match against Espérance de Tunis could have a significant impact on the team. Some believe that the current squad lacks African experience. Moreover, it's a return leg, meaning the Egyptian side might need the backing of their fans to make up for a possible misstep in the first leg or if they fail to get a favorable result in Radès.

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