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Finally in the final
Inas Mazhar Published in Al-Ahram Weekly on 30 - 09 - 2014

Finally Egyptians have something to cheer for, and to cheer up about. Ahli became only the second Egyptian club to reach the final of the CAF Confederation Cup since its creation in 2004, securing their berth in the final on Sunday after a 3-1 aggregate win after beating Cameroon's Coton Sport in the first leg 1-0 in Garoura two weeks ago.
No Egyptian club has ever won the tournament.
In Cairo Stadium on Sunday, despite an early lead to the hosts by Joseph Kombous, Ahli came back from behind to win the match 2-1 thanks to goals by Moussa Yedan and Amr Gamal.
According to cafonline website, the Egyptian team is on course to become the first club to win back-to back African club titles following their success in the prestigious CAF Champions League last year.
Ahli will now face Ivory Coast's Sewe Sport in the final scheduled to be played over two legs in November. The Ivorians had managed to qualify with one lone goal victory over the 2012 Champions AC Leopards in their first leg semi-final clash on Sunday in Abidjan thanks to a Koffi Christian Kouame second half strike.
The Abidjan-based club is looking to become the first Ivorian club to reach the final of a major continental club championship.
Ahli's striker Emad Meteib said after the game that he was glad his team had won and qualified for the final. However, he admitted that the final game against the Ivorian team will not be easy.
“Sewe Sport is a strong opponent and a stubborn one as well. They managed to beat a strong Congolese team, Leopards, to reach the final. It will not be easy. Ahli should be cautious. We have to prepare well for that game. With the return of the league competition, Ahli would be playing again and that would help maintain the team's performance until the final.”
Ahli's team captain Hossam Ghali called for the return of the fans to the stands once more. “Ahli is playing in a major international event and fans should be allowed in to support and make the vibe. Without fans, we feel sleepy in the match.”
Football games in Egypt are being played behind closed doors for security reasons.
The past weeks have seen most Egyptian football teams bow out of African competitions. The result for Ahli was even impressive after being eliminated earlier in the year from their favourite competition, the CAF Champions League. Their sole consolation was being compensated by playing in the second tier African club championships, the Confederations Cup.
The winner of the CAF Confederations Cup is expected to collect a sum of $660,000 and a chance to take on the winner of the CAF Champions league for the CAF Super Cup next year.

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