Cannon fire

A wicked direct kick gave Ahli three valuable points in the African Champions League, writes Abeer Anwar

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Ahli overcame a spirited performance by Morocco's Raja Casablanca to win 1-0 at home at the start of the group phase of the CAF Champions League. The early victory allowed Ahli to top Group A after South Africa's Ajax drew with title holders Enyimba of Nigeria 1-1.

Ahli lacked much of their lustre that saw them win the Egyptian league by more than 30 points.

On the other hand, the Moroccans were content to soak up whatever pressure Ahli and their fans could dish out in the Arab Contractors Stadium on Sunday night.

The first half was monotonous, the ball bouncing haphazardly in the middle of the field most of the time. The Algerian referee Mohamed Ben Noura livened up the encounter when he sent off Ahli's Islam El-Shatter and Raja's Hisham Mesbah in the 38th minute to leave both teams with 10 players the rest of the way.

Twelve minutes into the second half, the tie was broken when Ahli midfielder Mohamed Shawki's piledriver from a 35-yard free kick found nothing but net. Not noted for his scoring, the blast could place Shawki in a new role as free kick specialist.

Ahli players pressed for an insurance goal but goalkeeper Yassin Al-Hadj was alert. With time running out, Raja forged upfield in search of the equaliser but goalkeeper Essam El-Hadari blocked the way.

On 10 July, Ahli will play Enyimba in Nigeria while Raja Casablanca will welcome South Africa's Ajax Cape Town.

In the same stage in Group B, Zamalek drew with the Ivory Coast's Asec Mimosas 1-1 in the first leg in Abidjan.

Tarek El-Sayed put Zamalek ahead in the 31st minute before Guinean Koivogui drew in the 79th minute thanks to a defensive blunder by Medhat Abdel-Hadi.

On 10 July, Zamalek will face Tunisia's ESS in Cairo.