Six-time champions Al Ahly have promised not to try and defend their slender 2-1 win over Esperance as they aim to reach their fifth CAF Champions League final in six years.
Tunisian champions Esperance need only a goal at home Sunday against Al Ahly to qualify for the final of this year’s CAF Champions League after they lost the first game in Cairo a fortnight ago.
However, Ahly embattled coach Hossam Al-Badri has expressed confidence his team could also win at the November 7 Stadium in Rades, near Tunis, on Sunday.
“I'm not so satisfied with the result. We could have avoided the goal we conceded," said Al-Badri.
“However we will not defend in Tunisia. We always prefer to attack, and we can win away from home.”
Three years ago, the Egyptian champions lost by the odd goal to ‘The Blood and Gold’ in Tunis in a Champions League group fixture.
Six-time champions Ahly dominated the first leg, but would rue several wasted chances by Mohamed Barakat, Mohamed Fadl and the lively Liberian Francis Doe particularly in the second half.
Ahly’s narrow home win was marred by trouble involving travelling fans of Esperance with unconfirmed reports suggesting one death after the irate supporters ripped out stadium seats and battled stewards and police in a moment of madness.
Fourteen fans were arrested and later sentenced to 15 days in jail by a tribunal in Cairo before an amnesty by Egypt President Mohamed Hosni Mubarak set them free.
The Red Devils are now sweating on the fitness of Egypt international midfielder Hossam Ghaly, who has served out his four-match ban after the incident against JS Kabylie of Algeria in a group game.
The 28-year-old former Tottenham Hotspur ace suffered a knee injury while in international action against Niger last weekend.
Esperance will be banking on the elegance of skipper Oussema Darragi in midfield and the power and goals of Nigeria international striker Michael Eneramo.
The 24-year-old Eneramo is leading scorer in this year’s competition with seven goals and has resumed training with his team after initial doubts about his availability following a knock he suffered while featuring for Nigeria in a Nations Cup qualifier against Guinea.
His duel with Egypt international stopper Wael Gomaa could well define the outcome of this clash.
Darragi scored his team’s precious goal away at Ahly and then went on to inspire Tunisia to a very crucial away win in Togo in a Nations Cup qualifier this past weekend.
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