Holders Ahli held on to a 1-1 CAF Champions League semi-final first leg draw at Cameroon's Coton Sport to edge one step closer towards the final. The hosts took the lead in the 33rd minute via striker Emmanuel Mbongo before Egypt star Mohamed Abou-Treika brilliantly equalized seconds before the break. The match was a replay of the previous day's called-off game, a decision forced by weather conditions in Garoua. Seven-time African champions Ahli will host the return leg a fortnight later as Egypt visit Ghana on October 15 for the crucial World Cup qualifying playoff. Cool Treika Unlike the day before, Coton were determined from early on and managed to go ahead when Mbongo latched onto a long ball down the left before cutting inside Sherif Abdul-Fadil, who replaced Wael Gomaa in defense, to beat Sherif Ekrami at the near post. iframe Ahli replied with a close chance just two minutes later as a Walid Soliman header was saved by the keeper before Abdullah Al-Saied unluckily hit the post. The flamboyant Abou-Treika, however, ensured Ahli would not be entering the dressing room behind when he superbly controlled the ball with his head before slotting past the keeper on the stroke of half time. The second half was an eventless affair though as Ahli managed to hold on to their draw with several defensive changes that eventually frustrated the hosts and ensured a vital result.