Egypt to host FAO's Regional Leadership Academy for agri-food systems    EGX closes mixed on Oct. 14    HSBC named Best Cash Management Provider in Egypt by Euromoney    Boehringer Ingelheim Launches Metalyse® 25 mg in Egypt Following Approval by the Egyptian Drug Authority    Egypt, Qatar seek to deepen investment partnership    Trump-Xi meeting still on track    Sisi hails Gaza peace accord as a 'new chapter' for the Middle East    Egypt invites Chile's Codelco to explore copper mining opportunities    Turkish president holds sideline meetings with world leaders at Egypt summit    BP signs agreement to drill five new gas wells in Mediterranean within its Egypt concessions    Al-Sisi, Merz discuss Gaza ceasefire, ways to deepen Egypt–Germany relations    Al-Sisi, Meloni discuss strengthening Egypt–Italy relations, supporting Gaza ceasefire efforts    L'Oréal Egypt's 10th summit draws over 800 experts, focuses on dermatology    URGENT: Netanyahu skips Sharm El-Sheikh peace summit for holy reasons    Ministers of Egypt، Slovakia sign MoU on environmental protection، climate change    Egypt's Sisi warns against unilateral Nile actions, calls for global water cooperation    Egypt unearths one of largest New Kingdom Fortresses in North Sinai    Egypt unearths New Kingdom military fortress on Horus's Way in Sinai    Egypt Writes Calm Anew: How Cairo Engineered the Ceasefire in Gaza    Egypt's acting environment minister heads to Abu Dhabi for IUCN Global Nature Summit    Egyptian Open Amateur Golf Championship 2025 to see record participation    Cairo's Al-Fustat Hills Park nears completion as Middle East's largest green hub – PM    Egypt's Cabinet approves decree featuring Queen Margaret, Edinburgh Napier campuses    El-Sisi boosts teachers' pay, pushes for AI, digital learning overhaul in Egypt's schools    Egypt's Sisi congratulates Khaled El-Enany on landslide UNESCO director-general election win    Syria releases preliminary results of first post-Assad parliament vote    Karnak's hidden origins: Study reveals Egypt's great temple rose from ancient Nile island    Egypt resolves dispute between top African sports bodies ahead of 2027 African Games    Egypt's Al-Sisi commemorates October War, discusses national security with top brass    Egypt reviews Nile water inflows as minister warns of impact of encroachments on Rosetta Branch    Egypt's ministry of housing hails Arab Contractors for 5 ENR global project awards    A Timeless Canvas: Forever Is Now Returns to the Pyramids of Giza    Egypt aims to reclaim global golf standing with new major tournaments: Omar Hisham    Egypt to host men's, juniors' and ladies' open golf championships in October    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Front-runners once more
Published in Al-Ahram Weekly on 29 - 04 - 2014

Ahli's fans were kept at the edge of their seats throughout the team's African contender against Difaa Hassani El Jadida till the 95th minute of the match when Ahli's Ahmed Raouf was able to score the team's sole goal to end the match losing 2-1. Ahli nevertheless were able to qualify to the group phase through the away goal rule thus safeguarding hopes in the CAF Confederation Championship after losing all stakes in the African Champions League Championship at the hands of Ahli Benghazi of Libya. Ahli won the first leg of their play-off against Difaa El-Jadida 1-0.
Ahli is under pressure to win the CAF Confederation Cup title as Egyptian teams have been absent for 11 years from its titles' stand.
Ahli players started the match that was played on Mohamed Abdi Satdium on guard as they followed team's head coach, Mohamed Youssef's, instructions to play defensively to cut down the opponent's scoring chances. This was applied perfectly in the first half, but tables turned in the second as the Moroccans gained the upper hand scoring twice through Ahmed Chagou and Johan Lengoualama. It was only in the stoppage time of the match that Raouf revived Ahli's hopes, leading them to qualify to the most important phase of the competition. Youssef was jubilant, saying that the team needed such a victory to give the players self-confidence especially after losing in the Champions League. “I think they did their best and they followed my instructions to the utmost and I hope we will be able to make it to the final,” he said.
According to cafonline, Nigerians Bayelsa United crashed out of the Confederation Cup, losing 3-0 on aggregate to Ivorians Sewe San Pedro. Ghanaians Medeama have home advantage as they try to wipe out a 2-0 loss against Congolese side AC Leopards.
On the other hand, CAF announced its draw for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers at the headquarters of the Confederation of African Football in Cairo, Egypt. Defending champions Nigeria have drawn South Africa in one of seven qualifying groups. North African rivals Tunisia and Egypt will face each other. Ghana will meet Togo, and Ivory Coast and Cameroon are drawn together.
Three teams were drawn in each group at Sunday's ceremony. A fourth team will emerge from two more qualifying rounds.
Eventually, the group winners and runners-up will go through to the 2015 finals, as will the best third-placed side and the hosts Morocco.
First round:
Liberia v Lesotho
Kenya v Comoros Islands
Madagascar v Uganda
Mauritania v Equatorial Guinea
Namibia v Congo
Libya v Rwanda
Burundi v Botswana
Central African Republic v Guinea Bissau
Swaziland v Sierra Leone
Gambia v Seychelles
Sao Tome e Principe v Benin
Malawi v Chad
Tanzania v Zimbabwe
Mozambique v South Sudan
These are all two-legged qualifiers, with the team named first hosting the opening leg on the weekend of 16-18 May. The return leg will be played on the weekend of 30-31 May and 1 June. The aggregate winners advance to the second round.
Second round:
Liberia or Lesotho v Kenya or Comoros Islands
Madagascar or Uganda v Mauritania or Equatorial Guinea
Namibia or Congo v Libya or Rwanda
Burundi or Botswana v Central African Republic or Guinea Bissau
Swaziland or Sierra Leone v Gambia or Seychelles
Sao Tome e Principe or Benin v Malawi or Chad
Tanzania or Zimbabwe v Mozambique or South Sudan
These are all two-legged qualifiers, with the team named first hosting the opening leg on the weekend of 18-20 July. The return leg will be played on the weekend of 1-3 August. The aggregate winners advance to the group stage.
Group Stage:
Group A : Nigeria, Sudan, South Africa - plus winners of: Namibia vs Congo Brazzaville/Libya vs Rwanda
Group B : Mali, Ethiopia, Algeria - plus winners of: Sao Tome e Principe vs Benin/Malawi vs Chad
Group C: Burkina Faso, Gabon, Angola - plus winners of: Liberia vs Lesotho/Kenya vs Comoros Islands
Group D: Ivory Coast, Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon - plus winners of: Swaziland vs Sierra Leone/Gambia vs. Seychelles
Group E: Ghana, Guinea, Togo - plus winners of: Madagascar vs Uganda/Mauritania vs Equatorial Guinea
Group F: Zambia, Niger, Cape Verde Islands - plus winners of: Tanzania vs Zimbabwe/Mozambique vs South Sudan
Group G: Tunisia, Senegal, Egypt - plus winners of: Burundi vs Botswana/ Central African Republic vs Guinea Bissau
The top two countries in each group, plus the best third-placed finisher qualify for the finals along with the hosts Morocco.
The group matches will be played 5-6 September and 10 September; 10-11 October and 15 October; 14-15 November and 19 November.


Clic here to read the story from its source.