Title holders Ahli were able to make up for a first half Coton goal to hold Coton Sport to a 1-1 draw in their Orange CAF Champions League semi-final clash on Sunday in Garoua. The encounter was replayed after 24 hours as it was discarded after 65 minutes due to heavy rains and storms in the northern Cameroonian city. The first match on Saturday was stopped in the second half due to a waterlogged pitch after heavy rains that fell in Garoua. According to competition regulations, as stated by cafonline.com, Article 7.7 says “If a match is stopped before the end of the regular time for reasons force majeure and notably for poor ground conditions and or bad weather conditions to be decided upon by the referee, the match is to be replayed 24 hours later at the same venue and with the same referees. All disciplinary measures (caution or expulsion) pronounced during the match will be applied in conformity with CAF disciplinary code.” So the match was replayed on Sunday 6 October at the same venue, Roumde Adjia Stadium. Ahli ended the second half and the game with what can be called winning draw 1-1 in the absence of their coach Mohamed Youssef who was sent off in the last minutes of the match. Mohamed Abu Treika, Ahli's star was the lone scorer for his side as they hope to make it back-to-back crowns. After the match, Ahli's coach Youssef said he was “very satisfied” with the team's performance “although we complained officially to the CAF about postponing the match and repeating it the following day, yet it came to our favour to finish with a goal draw and not a goalless one” because of the away goal rule. Ahli officials had complained about postponement as the players wanted to head back quickly to Egypt to join the national team's preparation for next week's mammoth clash with Ghana in the first leg of the final African World Cup qualifications. Cameroon's opener was scored by Emmanuel Mbongo. In the other semi-final, 2011 champions Esperance of Tunisia were able to draw goalless against Orlando Pirates in the first leg played at Orlando Stadium on Saturday. Like Ahli, Esperance now have the advantage as they await the Buccaneers in Tunisia in two weeks time. Quoted on cafonline, Roger de Sa, Orlando Pirates coach, said, “Esperance are a good side no doubt about that but today they seemed to play for a draw. There is still all to play for. They will open up at home and that will give us a few opportunities. We have done it before and we will play for the flag.” On the other hand, Esperance's coach Maher Kanzari said, “Pirates are a strong side but 0-0 is a bad result to us. I would have preferred to lose 2-1. At least we could have scored an away goal. Both teams played a tactical game but now I must prepare for a tough game at home.”
