FORMER BOHEMIANS FANS’ favourite Ayman Ben Mohamed set up the winning goal during a dramatic CAF Champions League final on Friday night where Tunisian side Esperance successfully defended their title.
The 24-year-old, who studied business, economics, political science and sociology at Trinity College, set up team-mate Mohamed Toucef Belaili for a close-range finish shortly before half-time as Esperance secured a 1-0 second-leg victory to win the tie 2-1 on aggregate.
However, there were chaotic scenes at the Stade Olympique de Radès as the game was abandoned in the second half. Opponents Wydad Casablanca had an equaliser ruled out and refused to return to the pitch.
Play was delayed by more than an hour in Tunisia as the stadium’s VAR system failed to work successfully. The game was ultimately abandoned with Esperance crowned CAF Champions League winners for the second year in a row in controversial circumstances.
Ben Mohamed joined the club three years after enjoying a stand-out 2016 season at Dalymount Park, with the highly-rated defender now an established international for Tunisia.
He marked Liverpool star Mohamed Salah during an African Cup of Nations qualifier last year, with Friday’s dramatic victory now his second successive African Champions League crown since leaving the League of Ireland.
BUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUT YOUCEF BELAILI !!!! (cc @dzfoot @bylka613_ @Nizar_Hanini @fafarandole) pic.twitter.com/9AlLBQUHiL
— Walid Bylka Videos (@bylka613_vids) May 31, 2019
Amazing scenes from the Stade Olympique de Rades #TotalCAFCLFinal pic.twitter.com/NW3nh5iUut
— CAF (@CAF_Online) May 31, 2019
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It’s no coincidence that among the standout players this season are players returning from the UK – Mandriou, Byrne and Parkhouse.
The league can continue to nurture and produce talent going forward. It’s not a flash in the pan.
It has its problems but talented young footballers is not one of them.
With all due respect the chap is a Northern Irish player … what is the relevance or point of the article. No disrespect to him but he isn’t ours he is an NI player.
@DB: I presume this is an all island app. It covers lots of stuff from across the border. He plays for Derry city which is situated across the border but plays in the league of Ireland. Don’t be getting too worried about it
@DB: because he plays in the LOI and is as Irish as you.
@Baz Harkin: while I don’t agree with the initial post, I don’t agree with your retort. He plays for Northern Ireland. He has the option to play for Ireland which he has not exercised. He is not as Irish as someone who would exercise that option if they had the opportunity.
@Baz Harkin: Not that I agree but the courts ruled recently that those born in the North of this country are indeed British citizens and not Irish.
@Padraig Corcoran: if you don’t agree then why post it? That decision is wrong and will be challenged. As it says inside the Irish passport and written and agreed on in the good Friday agreement anyone born on the island of Ireland is Irish.
@EnKy: he’s played for the north up to under 21 level same as James McClean and Shane Duffy does that mean they aren’t ‘Irish’ either? . So by your logic is Eoin Morgan Irish or English?
@EnKy: also look at our under 21 side it’s full of great attacking options he’s probably looked at that and decided he would stand a far better chance getting international experience playing for the north.
@Baz Harkin: Surely I can bring up something I might disagree with in principle but can still be used to make a point.
@Baz Harkin: What a way to exercise one’s patriotism…
@EnKy: what’s more patriotic than denying a young man his identity based solely on which under age football team he represents
@EnKy: What a mad post. Are you suggesting that playing for Northern Ireland means you don’t have the right to Irish identity? Is Irishness only afforded to those from the south? Or those from the north who are good enough at football to represent the south?
What’s his nationality then – is he British? Or northern Irish? Do you therefore call yourself southern Irish or just Irish?
What’s paddy McCourt’s nationality?
I’ve resigned myself to the post Celtic tiger generation knowing and caring little about the north, but to have to listen to people claim we’re not Irish because we might represent the jurisdiction created by you lot selling us down the river is hard to take
@JarvisOFlaherterahry: well said!!
@JarvisOFlaherterahry: offence was not meant. Northern Ireland is Ireland all 32 counties are Ireland . But anyone who thinks that NI football team represents or wants anything Irish has never been to Windsor park match day never seen the Para or paramilitary flags or never heard the anti Fenian chants. The football team play god save the queen as their anthem.This is their right but that’s all I meant Btw The james Mc Cleans of this world have put up with more abuse because of their Irish nationalism and I have nothing but admiration for them. Anton rogan Neil Lennon booed and death threats because of their religion is the history of IFA supporters
@DB: so would you regard Neil Lennon as Irish seeing as he played for NI
@Eamonn O Connell: yes 100% absolutely of course. But wish he had played for Republic.
Its a pity people can’t take the article for what it is without going all geo political on it, I hope the young lad does well at whatever level or whichever country he plays for