All in

The Arab Contractors keep Egypt's African participation intact, writes Abeer Anwar

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The Contractors dealt with Africa Sports with ease

The Arab Contractors followed in the footsteps of three other Egyptian clubs as they qualified for the quarter-finals of the CAF Confederation Cup after sweeping Africa Sports of the Ivory Coast 3-0.

The Contractors join Ahli, Zamalek and Ismaili who qualified for the same round in the Champions League and Confederation Cup, Africa's two biggest football club tournaments.

Arab Contractors and Africa Sports drew 0-0 in the first leg. In Cairo for the second leg, Shiola Shouaib, despite failing to score or deliver a pass for a goal, was persistently dangerous on the Arab Contractor's goal. On the 15th minute, the tables turned after Shouaib was sent off for fouling and Alaa Abdel-Ghani converted from the spot.

In the second half, Mohamed Fahim surprised all with a powerful volley to make it 2-0 in the 72nd minute.

Talaat Muharam put the match out of reach in the 80th minute.

"I am very happy with this victory," Ghanem Sultan, Arab Contractors manager, said. "The team has worked hard and the players deserved to win."

Africa Sports French manager Tardi attributed the loss to the early penalty kick. "Africa Sports should have finished the match in Abidjan and won with a big goal difference but that was not the case," Tardi added.