Ahly-Esperance CAF draw: Through Tunisian eyes

Esperance director fears sharing Sportif Sfaxien's 2006 fate after Sunday's 1-1 draw with Egypt's Ahly in first leg of CAF Champions League in Cairo

Esperance de Tunis football director Riadh Bennour voiced concern about the upcoming second leg game of the CAF Champions League final in Tunisia on 17 November following Sunday's 1-1 draw with Ahly in the first leg in Egypt.
"We played a superb game in Egypt but the second leg in Tunisia will be difficult," Bennour was quoted as saying by Tunisian newspaper Assabah after the game.
Ahly snatched the 2006 title when they defeated Tunisian Club Sportif Sfaxien 1-0 in Tunisia during the second leg of tournament finals. The first leg result had also been a 1-1 draw in Egypt.
"We have to score in the second leg in Tunisia to avoid Sportif Sfaxien's fate in 2006," Bennour added.
Esperance coach Nabil Maaloul also revealed his concerns about the upcoming second leg, despite the advantage his team have as a result of the 1-1 draw with Ahly.
"I'm satisfied with the draw; the game isn't over. The second leg in Tunisia will determine the champion," Maaloul said.
Former Club Africain Tunis coach Abdelhak Benchikha asserted that Ahly would regret their poor performance in the first half of the first leg game against Esperance.
"Ahly players will be sorry for the chances they missed throughout the game," Benchikha told Assabah after the game.
"El-Badry's players performed well in the second half of the game, but lost their form in the first half due to their rush to score an early goal," he added.
"The two yellow cards Esperance players showed have affected their form, as they will be sidelined in the second leg in Tunisia," the tactician concluded.
Prominent Syrian referee Jamal Al-Sharif praised the calls made by Algerian referee Djamel Haimoudi during the 1-1 draw between Ahly and Esperance.
"All the Algerian referee's decisions were right; he didn't cause any problems between the two sides, as he showed impartiality while officiating the crucial showdown,"Al-Sharif said.
Esperance, the current African Champions league titleholders, are scheduled to host Ahly for the second leg of tournament finals in Tunisia on 17 November. The Cairo giants, however, will have to defeat the Tunisian side to clinch the cup, while a goalless draw will mean a victory for the latter.
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