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Esperance coach 'ready' for Champions League final Esperance de Tunis coach eyes 'positive result' against Ahly in Sunday's African Champions League final in Alexandria
Esperance de Tunis coach Nabil Maaloul said on Wednesday his team is ready to win the African Champions League title for the second time in a row, days before the first leg of the Champions League final scheduled for 4 November. In a pre-match news conference, Maaloul, who led Esperance to last year's title victory at the expense of Morocco's Wydad Casablanca, said he believes the result of the first leg will be decisive in determining the winner of the Champions League. "We are well prepared for the final. All the squad is ready for this crucial game. Injured striker Iheb Msekni is the only player who will miss the first leg, but he will be fit for the second," Maaloul said. "I hope the players will enter African football history with a second consecutive Champions League titles," he added. Esperance will face the six-time winners – Ahly – on 4 November at Alexandria's Borg El-Arab Stadium before hosting the Cairo giants on 17 November in Tunisia. ''The scenario of the second leg will depend on the result of the first. Sunday's clash will be so difficult, but we are used to playing such games and my players have the experience to deal with the pressure in those kinds of games," Maaloul added. "We should concentrate on the game and replicate the performance we produced against TP Mazembe in the Semi-final." Maaloul praised the depth of Ahly' squad, which includes several star players, but he is still confident the results in Alexandria will be in his team's favour. "Ahly is a harmonized team, which includes very talented and experienced players who helped the team and the Egyptian national team win several titles," he said. "Ahly's Mohamed Abou Treika, Gedo, and Emad Meteb are able to make the difference. Despite the strength of Ahly, we will aim for a win in Alexandria and we will practice the tactics necessary to achieve our target." "The most important thing in Sunday's match is to avoid conceding goals. This is our target," he concluded. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO Sports and on Facebook atAhramOnlineSports) http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/56883.aspx