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Esperance have to be cautious in Champions League final, says coach Esperance are taking nothing for granted ahead of their anticipated clash against Ahly in the second leg of the African Champions League final
Tunisia's Esperance have to be cautious if they are to secure a second consecutive African Champions League title, coach Nabil Maaloul said on Friday. The defending champions take on Ahly on Saturday in the second leg of the Champions League final, having held the Egyptian giants to a 1-1 draw in Alexandria two weeks ago. “It's a positive result for us surely, but we see each game as a separate one,” Maaloul, who was also in charge of Esperance when they won last year's title at the expense of Morocco's Wydad Casablanca, said in an interview with CAFonline.com. “We remember how Ahly won the title in 2006 at the last moment here in Tunisia. So we have to be careful.” Ahly lifted the 2006 Champions League trophy in thrilling fashion after a last-gasp goal from playmaker Mohamed Abou-Treika gave them a 2-1 aggregate victory Tunisia's Sfaxien. Esperance will have to do without a number of regular players, including lively Ghanaian winger Harrison Afful and defender Sameh Derbali, but Maaloul believes his squad has sufficient depth to cope with their absences. “We miss many players like Derbali and Afful in addition to the injured players, but we have the suitable replacement for them,” Maaloul added. “Our players can play in various positions and they all can do their role.” (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports)