Kigali: Al-Hilal secured a valuable victory over visiting Algerian side MC Alger in the opening match of the group stage, winning 2-1 at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, Rwanda. The triumph earned Al-Hilal their first three points in the race to qualify for the quarter-finals.
According to Sudan News Agency, the match was fiercely contested, with both teams putting in considerable effort to claim the win. Al-Hilal took the lead late in the first half with a goal from Abdelraouf, following a sequence that combined skill, speed, and precise finishing. The move began with a perfect pass from Nigerian player Sunday, complemented by Burundian Jean Claude’s dribbling, before Abdelraouf finished with a clever touch that ignited the stadium. The crowd included a large contingent of Sudanese fans, alongside the Rwandan audience cheering for Al-Hilal.
In the second half, Al-Hilal’s physical intensity declined, which MC Alger capitalized on to equalize via an own goal. This prompted Al-Hilal’s coach to make tactical adjustments, and from the very first touch, team captain Mohamed Abdelrahman scored the second goal, benefiting from Ebolah’s precise cross. MC Alger launched further attacks to level the score, but Al-Hilal’s defence and goalkeeper responded heroically, despite a red card issued to Salah Adel. Al-Hilal held on to their lead until the final whistle, concluding the match with a 2-1 victory.