Ahli are close to winning the African Championship League title for a record sixth time after a win over Enyimba put them in the final. Inas Mazhar was in Cairo Stadium to see the progress made Ahli stayed on track for a record sixth African Champions League title after a tense 1-0 victory over Enyimba of Nigeria in front of a high spectator turnout not seen for months, perhaps after Ahli officials had issued a unified ticket for LE10 in which spectators can sit either in second or third class. Ahli is scheduled to meet Cotonsport of Cameroon in the final in two weeks time. Ahli will host the first leg in Cairo. Supporters of the Red Devils endured some restless moments in Cairo Stadium as an equaliser would have taken the Peoples Elephant into the final on the away-goals rule after the first leg of the semi-final ended goalless. The fans, especially the 'ultras' stood throughout the match and kept urging the players on, desperate for a second goal. The only goal was all Angolan, scored by Flavio Amado who netted a clean header near to the post of the Enyimba goalkeeper. Flavio had received a corner raised from fellow countryman Felisberto 'Gilberto' Amaral. The Egyptian players took their breath as soon as the referee blew the final whistle. They looked tired throughout the game but in the end celebrated with the fans who, despite the victory and the qualification, were worried about the team's prospects in the final. News of Cotonsport of Cameroon beating Dynamos Harare 4-0 a few hours earlier worried Ahli officials, players and fans as well. It was the talk of the spectators while they were leaving the stadium claiming that Ahli would never lift the cup if they played the way they did against Enyimba. Manuel Jose said in a post-match press conference that the players committed some mistakes and played remembering last year's final against Etoile du Sahel when they played to a goalless draw away and then lost at home. According to Jose the players feared the same outcome. He said they should have scored two more goals. "But we have fantastic players who have made history. They have accomplished what no other team has done in four years. We have reached the final four times and won the cup twice in the last three years and we are determined to win this one as well. "I've been following and watching Cotonsport's matches on tape and will set my plan accordingly. But until then, we should concentrate on the league in which we are also determined to defend our title." Ahli goalkeeping coach Ahmed Nagi said the game was very tough between two strong teams. And though his goalkeeper Amir Abdel-Hamid wasn't tested in the first half, which was almost a one-sided game, he was alert in the second. "There were some chances for the opponents, but he was there for it and displayed a brilliant performance and I trust he will keep his net clean in the final." Belgian head coach of Eniymba believes his team played a good game despite the defeat. "We won the title twice before and we did our best this time but lost. I don't think it is a shame if you lose to a team as strong and experienced as Ahli. For me, I think my team played a good game." Ahli share the record of five titles with their arch rivals Zamalek, who were eliminated last month in the group stage of the continent's most prestigious club competition. Linked with a move to Ahli in the Nigerian and Egyptian media, leading African Champions League marksman Worgu was well contained by a Shadi Mohamed-marshalled defence until midway through the second half. Egyptian hearts then missed a few beats as the 13-goal striker burst between two defenders and his hard low shot eluded Abdel-Hamid only to narrowly miss the target at the far post. It was the closest Enyimba came to levelling as they sought a third final appearance in the African Champions League showpiece, having won the title twice in succession during the 2003-2004 seasons. Ahli created most of the clear-cut chances and defender Ahmed El-Sayed will long wonder how he managed to completely miss a low cross on 34 minutes with an empty goal in front of him. Enyimba had another close shave when Monday Osagie almost conceded an own goal with a wild interception of an Ahmed Seddik cross from the right wing, where Ahli profited from slack marking throughout the opening half. In the other second-leg semi-final, Cameroon champions Cotonsport claimed a historic final berth after beating Zimbabwean outfit, Dynamos FC, 4-0 on Saturday in their second leg semi-final clash at the Roumdé Adjia Stadium in Garoua.
