Ahli and Zamalek will clash in the African Champions League semi-final Reigning champions Enyimba of Nigeria crashed out of the African Champions League after they lost 2-1 to Egypt's Ahli in Cairo this weekend, while Raja Casablanca of Morocco, who won 3-0 in South Africa against Ajax Cape Town, clinched the last semi-final spot ahead of Enyimba. Two goals from Osama Hosni ended Enyimba's dream of winning the Champions League for a third time in a row. Enyimba started well as Atanda Sakibu gave them the lead in the 27th minute, turning home from close range after Ahli goalkeeper Essam E-Hadari had brilliantly saved his first effort. Hosni levelled the score for Ahli 10 minutes later, following up on a great effort by Ahmed Hassan. Ahli' s winner came when substitute Mohamed Abdel-Wahad crossed for Hosni to head home in the 81st minute. "We wanted to win this match to confirm our superiority. Playing with a second string team didn't mean we weren't serious. I guess we deserve winning this year's title. Our performances show that,' Ahli's coach Hossam El-Badri said. Meanwhile in South Africa, Raja Casablanca were simply too strong and experienced for a young Ajax side already out of contention and missing several key players who were either injured or being rested. Raja took the lead as early as the sixth minute when Guinean Abdelkarim Fofana slotted home from close range after Marouane Zemama dragged the ball back from the goal line. Two minutes from half-time, the lively Soufiane Alloudi doubled the lead with a neat chip from inside the six yard area to effectively seal the game for the visitors. Ajax missed a good chance to reduce the deficit in the 55th minute when George Mofokeng failed to connect with a header from close range from a set piece. Shortly after seeing his shot hit the upright, the lively Mouhsinne Iajour completed the scoring for Raja. Iajour slotted the ball into an empty net after Ajax goalkeeper Moeneeb Josephs had ventured way outside his penalty area only to see his header fall straight to the feet of Fofana. After the game, Ajax coach Gordon Igesund conceded his side were beaten by stronger opponents. "Many of my players are very young and if they stay together for the next three years they will be a force to be reckoned with," he said. The results mean that in the semi- finals Raja Casablanca will now play Group A winners Etoile Sahel of Tunisia while Ahli play Egyptian arch- rivals Zamalek. In the competition's Group B, Etoile Sahel beat visitors Zamalek 2-1 to finish first. The first half was goalless with the two best chances falling to Etoile, as Hakim Al-Barqee's acrobatic double kick went wide and Gerson Silva's powerful shot was saved by Zamalek goalkeeper Abdel-Wahed El-Sayed. Zamalek's best effort came as Adel Fathi's powerful shot was dropped by Etoile's goalkeeper, who managed to gather the ball just as Junior was about to follow up. Etoile took the lead six minutes into the second half through Nigerian striker Emeka Opara, who converted a cross from the side by Silva. The lead was doubled six minutes later as Etoile were awarded a free kick just outside the area and Marouane Al-Bokri's superb shot flew past El-Sayed. Zamalek managed to get back into the game and were rewarded in the 64th minute with a consolation goal from Fathi. Etoile played the final four minutes of the game with 10 men as one of their players was sent but they held on for the victory. Meanwhile in the other match in the group, in the Ivory Coast capital Abidjan, Asec Mimosas edged past Esperance of Tunisia 1-0. A late goal by striker Abdramane Diaby handed Asec the narrowest of wins. Diaby rocketed a shot from outside the area that the Esperance keeper got a hand to but couldn't keep out of the roof of the net. Asec's victory, their first in the group stages, means they leapfrog over the Tunisian side into third place in the group, but still miss out in the semi- finals. In the Confederations Cup, Dolphin of Nigeria have taken control of Group B with a 3-2 win over FC 105 Libreville in Gabon. The Nigerian champions took the lead in the 29th minute through Endurance Idahor. David Tosso equalised for FC 105 on the hour but a minute later Efosa Eguakun restored Dolphin's lead. Eguakun then put his side further ahead in the 80th minute before Juste Otomo grabbed a consolation for the hosts in the final minute of the game. In the group's other game the Arab Contractors edged past their Egyptian rivals Ismaili 1-0. The only goal of the game came in the 26th minute as Ayman Zien took advantage of a goalmouth scramble to head home for the Contractors. The results mean the Dolphin top the group with 10 points from their four games, while Ismaili are in second place with seven points. The Arab Contractors are in third with six points while FC 105 stay bottom without a single point and cannot now reach the final of the competition, with only the group winners advancing. FAR Rabat of Morocco scored a last minute goal to beat visiting King Faisal Babes of Ghana 2-1 in Group A of the Confederation Cup. The hosts took the lead in the 24th minute through Jaouad Bouaouda, King Faisal equalised just after half-time through Ghanaian international Abubakar Yahuza. FAR eventually won the game as Youssef Kadioui grabbed a last minute winner. Meanwhile in Tunisia, AS Marsa easily beat Fello Stat Labe of Guinea 3-1. Anis Azak opened the scoring for Marsa in the 25th minute before Khalid Al-Hirech and Youssef Al-Mouihbi sealed the victory with goals in the second half. The Guinean's consolation came in the 71st minute thanks to Mohamed Camara. The results mean that FAR Rabat take control of the group with 10 points from four games while Marsa move into second place with seven points. King Faisal are in third place with six points while Fello Star Labe are yet to get a single point and have no chance of reaching the final, with only the group winners advancing in the tournament.
