Advantage Ahli

Ahli steered clear of a defeat in Aba after holding Enyimba to a goalless draw in the first leg of the CAF Champions league semi-final, Ahmed Morsy reports

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Five-time African champions Ahli failed to win when they faced Nigeria's Enyimba in the first leg semi-final clash at the Enyimba International Stadium in Aba on Sunday. However, the 0-0 draw was in the Egyptian team's favour, not least because the match took place on an unplayable pitch that had fissures as deep as pot holes.

The result gives Ahli the greater opportunity of reaching the final when they host former champions Enyimba in the second leg in two weeks' time.

During the past five years, the two sides have each won the competition twice and each of them is bent on becoming the first side to complete a hat-trick of wins since the new format was introduced in 1997.

Ahli successfully kept Enyimba's forwards at bay in the first half while the hosts failed to threaten goalkeeper Amir Abdel-Hamid after Ahli's coach Manuel Jose, who led Ahli to three Champions League triumphs during the past seven years, fielded defensive midfielders Ahmed Hassan, Hossam Ashour and Anis Boujelbene.

In fact, Ahli tried to launch their own raids through the penetration of wingbacks Gilberto and Mohamed Barakat. The duo unsettled the Enyimba backline by their runs down the flanks but Ahli forwards failed to connect with their pinpoint crosses.

Ahli had a chance to stun the home crowd in the 16th minute after a swift move from the mercurial Barakat who darted down the right flank before providing a low cross to Boujelbene. The Tunisian midfielder got lost in front of Enyimba's goal and finally fed Mohamed Abu Treika, whose left-footed shot was superbly blocked by the Enyimba keeper.

The individual efforts of Enyimba's striker Stephen Worgu, who is the current Champions League top scorer with 13 goals, were spoiled by Ahli's three-man defence.

Although the second half was not as exciting, both sides had a chance to settle the game in their favour. Ahli held firm during the remaining minutes to return home with a satisfying result.

"The draw is a relatively good result but it is the least positive one for us," Jose was quoted as saying on Ahli's official website.

Jose said the uninspiring display was down to the poor state of the pitch.

"The high humidity also affected the players' performance throughout the 90 minutes. But in the return leg we will have the home advantage and will be heavily supported by our fans."

In the other semi-final, Cameroonian side Coton Sport closed in on reaching the CAF Champions League final after claiming a precious 1-0 away victory over Zimbabwe's Dynamos on Sunday.

Niger international Kamilou Daouda headed in the winner in the 32nd minute of the game.

Dynamos will face a daunting task in the second leg when they meet Coton Sport in Cameroon.

The Harare-based side is looking to reach the Champions League final for the second time in their history.

In the CAF Confederation Cup, Egyptian club Haras Al-Hedoud produced a strong-willed display but lost hopes of reaching the CAF Confederation Cup final following a 1-1 draw with Club Africain in Tunisia in Sunday.

The draw put Al-Hedoud, who needed to win to stand any chance of advancing to the final, in third place of Group A with seven points.

The military club lay one point behind second-placed Club Africain and three adrift of leaders Sfaxien with one match to go.

The winner of Sfaxien's clash with Club Africain will determine the group leaders who will advance to the competition's finale.

Al-Hedoud's hopes of winning the game were dealt a major blow when defender Saied was sent off in the 58th minute for a second bookable offense.

In Group B of the same competition, Tunisian giants Etoile moved a step closer to the finals after holding Ghana champions Asante Kotoko to a 2-2 draw in the Group B clash on Saturday at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi.

The result puts Etoile in a better position to go through from the group, and leaves Kotoko's dreams of reaching their second final in a continental championship in three years hanging by a thread.

In the other group match, Algerian outfit J.S. Kabylie defeated Sudanese side Al-Merrikh 3-1 in Tizi Ouzou to go top of the group