Ahli are back in the African fray, writes Inas Mazhar Two weeks after being defeated on African soil for the first time in two years, Egypt's Ahli bounced back to beat Algeria's JS Kabylie 2-0 at home in the second match of the 2006 African Champions League Championship. The win gave Ahli three points after losing to Tunisia's CS Sfaxien 1-0 two weeks earlier in Tunisia at the start of the championship's group phase. Former Zamalek midfielder Ahmed Sedik, who was playing only his third match with Ahli after signing for the Red Devils over the Summer, opened the scoring for his new team 25 minutes into the match. With a superb free curling free kick, Sedik gave the defending African champions a 1-0 lead. Sedik became the hero of the day at Cairo Stadium, which saw a low spectator turnout, when he created his team's second goal with a rasping shot on the stroke of half-time that hit the post and fell for team captain Osama Hosni who was waiting to net it in. In a press conference following the match, Ahli's head coach Manuel Jose told reporters he was happy with the result and the result of the other match in the group. "We are equal in points now which brings us back to the beginning, giving Ahli the chance to compensate its first match loss," Jose said. The Portuguese coach added that he was pleased with his team's performance in the first half which led to the early victory. However, he added he wasn't pleased with their second half performance. "But I wasn't surprised because my team was exhausted following a long season. They didn't have time to rest. And we have many injuries on the team, to seven essential players. But the current players were up to the challenge and fought hard to maintain the lead until the win. "But what surprised me really was the performance of the Algerian side. It was clear their coach was playing for a draw." Jose had opened fire last week after Ahli won the Super Cup. Despite the 1-0 win against Enppi, the team lost their super star playmaker and striker Mohamed Abou Treika, captain Shadi Mohamed and defender Ahmed El-Sayed, all because of injuries. The trio joined a long list of injuries. "It is the Egyptian system which make us play continuously," Jose said. "Look how many players we have lost due to injury. I kept telling the officials of Egyptian football that teams need to rest. They can't go on playing like this. But nobody understands." Jose hopes his injured players will recover before the national league competition kicks off this week. The defending champions Ahli start their debut in the league today playing against Tanta. The match will see the return of Emad Meteb and Shadi Mohamed who missed the encounter with Kabylie after being suspended. Mohamed Abdel-Wahab will also start after Ahli officials bought him back from the Emirates club Al-Zafra. JS Kabylie's head coach said the result was normal as his team entered the match fearing the African champion and their reputation. "Ahli is a big club, even when playing with their substitutes." The African victory moved Ahli into second place in Group A behind Ghana's Asante Kotoko, who trounced Tunisia's CS Sfaxien 4-2. The Ghanaian side twice came from behind to beat the Tunisians in a thrilling match. The victory was Kotoko's first points in Group A. The Ghanaian club, who lost their opening group match in Algeria earlier this month, conceded a goal to Sfaxien striker Blaise Kouassi after just five minutes but stormed back with two goals in the second half to claim the points. Sfaxien, who had scored an upset win over defending champions Ahli of Egypt in their first group match two weeks earlier, looked to enforce their new-found reputation as Kouassi netted with a spectacular diving header that diverted the ball away from Kotoko goalkeeper Eric Nii Baah. But the lead lasted just three minutes. Kotoko, who are being forced to play away from their home ground in Kumasi because it is undergoing renovations, drew level when Ahmed Toure arrived unmarked to power home a header after a perfect cross from left back Aziz Ansah. Sfaxien restored their lead with a header from Mohamed Kadri midway through the first half, forcing Kotoko to fight back again to level in the 36th minute through Edmund Owusu-Ansah. Kotoko finally took the lead in the 76th minute when substitute Osei Kwame's low drive took a wicked deflection and the hosts made sure of the win when Nana Arhin Duah expertly placed the ball into the net with a deft shot from a tight angle three minutes later. Ivorian side Asec beat Ghana's Hearts of Oak 3-0 in Group B in the same competition. Midfielder Didier Ya Konan scored twice to put Asec on top of their group. Emmanuel Kone added the third goal in a one-sided win for the Ivory Coast side, who lead Enyimba of Nigeria on goal difference. Konan's first goal came after a mistake by Hearts' substitute Joseph Tekyi Mensah, who with his first touch of the ball managed to miscue a header into the path of the Asec midfielder. The second came from the penalty spot after Stephen Ofei brought down Desire Maglorie Kouame in the 63rd minute. Kone added the third with 20 minutes left when Hearts of Oak goalkeeper Laud Quartey got a hand to his long-range free kick but failed to keep it out. Asec host Enyimba on 13 August, marking the halfway point in the group phase. Nigeria's Enyimba were held to a 1-1 draw by South Africa's Orlando Pirates in the other match of the group. Chidozie Johnson leveled the score in the 66th minute to spare Enyimba the embarrassment of defeat in a match in which they totally dominated but were unable to translate their efforts to any goals. Pirates took a surprise lead with a goal from Lucky Lekgwathi in the 33rd minute from a long-range free kick. Enyimba were denied a first goal in the seventh minute when Emeka Akueme hit the crossbar as Pirates showed the first glimpses of the rickety defence that would have them on the back foot for the rest of the game. It was their failure to clear from a set piece that allowed Johnson to score the equaliser with a half volley from the edge of the penalty area. Pirates goalkeeper Francis Chansa made an instinctive save just four minutes later to stop an Akueme header from less than a metre out. Enyimba, who won the Champions League title in 2003 and 2004, were favourites to win a second successive match in the group but the draw kept them within striking distance of the other three sides in the group. It was a second successive draw for Pirates in Group B.
