CAF Champions League 2018

Dublin Raised Ex-League of Ireland Star Wins African Champions League


Ayman Ben Mohamed African Champ with Esperance of Tunisia. Photo | Souhail Khmira
Ayman Ben Mohamed African Champ with Esperance of Tunisia. Photo | Souhail Khmira

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Former Bohemians, UCD and Longford Town left-back Ayman Ben Mohamed starred as his club Esperance de Tunis defeated Al Ahly of Egypt 3-0 Friday in Rades to win a third African Champions League title.

The left-back who played the whole 90 minutes in his side’s victory was born in London to an Irish mother and a Tunisian father and moved to Ireland when he was two years of age beginning his career at Dublin side UCD.

Ben Mohamed was excellent as his side came from 3-1 down following the first leg of the final to win the second game by 3-0 thanks to a brace from Saad Bguir and another from Anice Badri.

The victory in the second leg was a huge boost for Ben Mohamed who was forced to miss the first game through injury but thankfully was fit to help his side lift the prestigious trophy.

Success came as a massive relief to Esperance, who have often been Champions League ‘bridesmaids’, losing four of six previous finals in the elite African club competition.

The 23-year old also recently made his international debut for Tunisia in what has been a whirlwind couple of weeks for the former League of Ireland man.

Ben Mohamed had featured in a home-based Irish U21s squad but was called up to the Tunisian senior side for the first time in 2016 and made his debut two years later in last month’s 2-1 win over Niger which sealed Tunisia’s place in the African Nations Cup.