Bebo's hat-trick gives Ahly title

Abdulhafiz was the hero of the first leg but Bebo took control this time

Al Ahly 3-0 Sundowns, Al Ahly win 4-1 on aggregate.

A hat-trick from Khaled Bebo gave Al Ahly of Egypt the US$1m African Champions League trophy over South Africa's Mamelodi Sundowns in Cairo.

Bebo, returning from suspension, scored twice in the first-half and completed the rout in the 89th minute to give the Egyptians a 4-1 win on aggregate and their third title as African champions.

Bebo was preferred to the club's leading goalscorer Alaa Ibrahim in the starting line-up as the hosts made three changes from the side which drew 1-1 away in the opening leg in Pretoria a fortnight earlier.

All three of his goals came against the run of play and through fast breaks masterminded by the Egyptian striker.

Penalty goal

In the packed Cairo National Stadium with 120,000 fans, Bebo sent the crowd wild after converting a penalty in the 36th minute.

Bebo had been brought down by Fabian McCarthy's late challenge inside the box.

Just before the interval, Bebo scored the second on the volley after Mohamed Farouk had done all the work on the right flank.

With a minute left to play after the South Africans had hit the post three times in the second-half, Bebo sealed victory for the Egyptians breaking into space to finish easily.

Sundowns had the better chances to come from behind to win the match, but goalkeeper Esam El Hadary was difficult to beat.

El Hadary denied Sundown's attacker Simba Marumo from close range late in the game.

Earlier on, only 15 seconds into the second-half Carlo Scott had fired from the edge of the box, but Hadary had narrowed the angle.

Great achievement

Marumo also headed against the post and Daniel Mudau showed his reflex, turning and shooting in the box but the ball deflected to a corner.

It was a great achievement by the youthful Ahly side who were not given much of a chance to play in the final.

However, the Champions League itself was difficult to predict because all the eight teams who played in the group stage could have come this far.

But certainly it is a title the Egyptian side deserve after they were named African club of the century by the Confederation of African Football.

Earlier this year the Cairo giants defeated Real Madrid of Spain who were also honoured as club of the century by Fifa.

Al Ahly will play in next year's African Champions league along with the Egyptian league leaders Zamalek.