Ahly Seeking to Restore Egyptian Pride

Al-Ahly will be seeking to restore the pride of Egyptian football in this weekend's Orange CAF Champions League semi-final second leg clash against Coton Sport of Cameroon.

Egypt is still mourning the 6-1 drubbing of the Pharaohs by the Black Stars of Ghana in the 2014 FIFA World Cup playoff last Tuesday in Kumasi. Whilst their chances of making it to the Mundial next year in Brazil look almost shattered, Ahly's involvement in the premier continental club championship remains the only source of hope to Egyptians.

Interestingly, 11-members of the Egyptian team that lost to Ghana are from the stables of Ahly, and putting behind that result early will play an influential role against the Cameroonian champions.

The first leg ended one-all and Ahly will yet again host the return encounter behind close-doors in the Red Sea resort of El-Gouna. Besides the psychological headache the likes of Wael Gomaa and Mohamed Aboutreika must overcome to be ready for the tie, head coach Youssef Mohamed will have no place on the bench after being expelled in the previous encounter in the northern Cameroonian city of Garoua.

Whilst the Red Devils sweat over the fitness of first choice goalie Sherif Ekramy, who sustained an injury during the World Cup playoff and was replaced by Ahmed El-Shennawi; the good news is the expected return of striker Ahmed Moteab. Moteab has just recovered from an injury, which has kept him out of action for some time, and has been passed fit for the battle for a place in the final.

Whilst the Egypytians need at least a barren draw to go through, Coton Sport must score to remain in contention. Frenchman Sebastien Desabre and his charges will be hoping to overturn the books this time and adding on to the problems of Egyptian football at the moment.

The Cameroonians lost to Ahly in the final of the 2008 edition, and the surviving duo from that squad, Kingue Pondo and Bapidi Fils, remain upbeat about their chances.

"Our chances are good and we have to stay focused," Pondo and Fils sounded ahead of the game.

Elsewhere in Rades, Esperance of Tunisia will lock horns with South African torchbearers Orlando Pirates, also for a place at the final. After a barren draw in the previous meeting in Johannesburg a fortnight ago, Esperance are well-placed to reach their fourth successive final in the premier continental club championship after 2010, 2011 and 2012.

That feat will see them emulate TP Mazembe (1967,1968,1969,1970) and Ahly (2005,2006,2007,2008). However, they must first scale over Pirates, who have served the surprise packets of this season.

The Tunisian giants will be without key midfielder Khaled Mouelhi due to injury, however Oussama Darragi insists the Buccaneers cannot stand their way and the final. Darragi missed out on last year's final after joining Swiss side, FC Sion on loan and is looking forward to playing in his third final after 2010 and 2011.

Pirates coach Roger de Sa reckons a tough outing against the 'Blood and Gold' and is counting on his defence to remain as tightest as ever to remain on course.

"A win at home would have been a better result, but my main priority was not to concede. That has allowed us to maintain our hope making the final," said de Sa.

Recognising that Esperance falls within the scope of Ahly and Mazembe, previous opponents in their campaign, midfielder Oupa Manyisa is optimistic about their chances.

"I think the Tunisians will take a different approach from the first leg by attacking, and that will give us some advantage."

At stake is a whopping $1.5 million prize-money for the winner and the ticket to represent the continent at the FIFA Club World Cup in Morocco in December.