Continental clash

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Against Aluminium, Ahli's regulars were rested while the substitutes did most of the running

EGYPT'S two powerhouses clash in the semi- final of the African Champions League on Sunday in the first leg of an all-Egyptian affair

Zamalek are the undisputed kings of the African Champions League, having won it a record five times. Ahli have captured the event three times.

However, Ahli go into the semi-final as the favourites. Selected the century's best African football club, Ahli are riding a 43-game unbeaten streak which includes just two draws in last season's league matches and a perfect 4-0 record at the start of this season.

But the big question remains whether Ahli can topple their arch-rivals Zamalek who finished fifth in the league standings last year but have markedly improved since. They currently stand in second place, two points behind Ahli. It should not be forgotten that Zamalek was selected No 2 in African football history.

The two clubs are by far the best and most popular teams in Egypt. Their derby is watched by millions across the Arab world. This war will be no exception. Never have the two faced off in the African Champions League. Only once before did they meet in African club competition, in the African Super Cup, won by Zamalek.

The two games will be played in the Railroads Club in lieu of the ongoing refurbishment of Cairo Stadium. The first leg belongs to Zamalek. So a draw will be in favour of the reds. However, Ahli's head coach Portuguese Manuel Jose wants to go one step further and is determined to win. Zamalek's head coach Farouk Gaafar has similar ambitions. He took over early this season -- in fact in just the second game of the season -- but is no stranger, having been a midfield star for the club in the 1970s.

Final preparations in Ahli camp saw Jose put at least one strict rule in place: all players have been banned from speaking to the media, especially with regards to the match. A LE5,000 fine was imposed on anyone breaking the rules. The penalty was later increased to LE10,000 to include anything said to the media.

Ahli finished atop of their Group A with 14 points -- four wins and two ties -- while Zamalek ended up in second place in Group B with only nine points.

The other semi-final features Raja Casablanca of Morocco against North African neighbour Etoile Sahel of Tunisia. Interestingly, the four finalists are all from North Africa.

Ahli had reached the semi-final with a clean record of no losses, beating the two-time defending champion Enyimba of Nigeria 2-1 in their final group phase match in Cairo. The loss prevented Enyimba from defending their title. The other semi-finalist of the group, Raja Casablanca of Morocco, won 3-0 in South Africa against Ajax Cape Town to clinch the last semi- final spot ahead of Enyimba.

Etoile Sahel had beaten visitors Zamalek 2-1 to finish first in the group.

"We wanted to win this match to confirm our superiority," Ahli's assistant coach Hossam El-Badri said after qualifying to the semi-final. "Playing with a second string team didn't mean we weren't serious. We deserve winning this year's title. Our performances shows that." Against Enyimba, Ahli fielded a squad of mainly substitute players who get little playing time.

Each club is also seeking to become the first Egyptian team to make it to the FIFA World Clubs Championship scheduled to take place in Japan in December.

This week's national league matches are a warm up for both teams. Ahli edged newly promoted Aluminium 1-0 while Zamalek were due to meet the Coastal Guards in a tough test in Alexandria. Zamalek will submit to an intensive training camp following the Border Guards.

Both teams will be playing at full strength. No injuries or red cards are keeping any key player away. Even Ibrahim Said, the mercurial Zamalek defender, has had his sidelining waved away for the match. Said was involved in a verbal volley with Gaafar after he was substituted against Etoile Sahel.