Ahli qualified for the semi-finals of the CAF Champions League while Ismaili bade farewell, reports Abeer Anwar Ahli of Egypt edged Nigeria's Heartland 2-1 to secure a place in the semi- finals of the African Champions League as they seek to recapture a crown they virtually own. At Cairo International Stadium, Ahli dashed Heartland's dreams of adding points to the four they had and of themselves qualifying. Ahmed Fathi scored in the 20th minute after his cross from a direct kick eluded the keeper. Teammate Mohamed Fadl added the second on the 49th minute, striking from a stand-up position from inside the penalty area. The Nigerians got one back in the 56th minute when Emmanuel Nwachi slammed a left-footer past Sherif Ikrami but that would be all she wrote for the Nigerian outfit which made it to last year's final. With eight points Ahli secured second place in their Group B. Group leaders JS Kabylie of Algeria lead with 13 points, followed byAhli, then Heartland with four and Ismaili on three points in that order. Kabylie assured themselves of a top of the group finish after defeating Egypt's Ismaili 1-0 through Kabylie forward Izu Azuka. Ismaili, meanwhile, lost all hope of qualifying. Although Ismaili were the better team they lacked a goal poacher. They were unable to translate their shots into goals and the general feeling shared by the players in the locker room afterwards was that they did their best but were unlucky. Ismaili's Dutch coach Mark Vota appealed to his players to put aside their loss and concentrate on the national league instead. Heartland plays Kabylie in their final match of the group on Sunday at the Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri while Ismaili host Ahli in Ismailia. Both games are largely meaningless. The identities of the four clubs in the semi-finals are now revealed: Algeria's JS Kabylie, TP Mazembe (DR Congo), Esperance (Tunisia) and record six- time winner Ahli (Egypt). Esperance and Mazembe make up Group A, and JS Kabylie and Ahli comprise Group B. Who finishes one- two in Group A will be determined after the final round of matches next weekend. Esperance, winners in 1994 sealed their place despite being held to a 2-2 draw by Algerian champions Entente Setif on Saturday. Mazembe also secured their slot with a 2-1 victory over Dynamos of Zimbabwe. Both Esperance and Mazembe share top spot on 10 points apiece. Entente Setif are next on five points and Dynamos at the bottom with three points after five rounds of matches. At the Moulay Abdallah Complex in Rabat, FUS Rabat posited a lone goal victory over Haras Al-Hodoud of Egypt in Group B in the Orange CAF Confederation Cup. Rachid Rokki scored the only goal of the match on 57 minutes. In their Confederation Cup Group A clash on Sunday in Tripoli, Libyan champions Al-Ittihad handed AS FAN of Niger their biggest loss this term after beating them 4-0. Sudanese giants Al-Hilal maintained their perfect run in the Confederation Cup with a 2-1 win over Djoliba AC of Mali on Saturday in Omdurman. Hilal have nine points, Libya's Al-Ittihad three, Djoliba two and AS FAN of Niger just a point. Zanaco shocked CS Sfaxien of Tunisia to win 1-0 at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka to record their first victory in the Confederation Cup mini-league phase. The result also ended Sfaxien's unbeaten run in the Confederation Cup this year. They have drawn in all their away games well into the mini- league stage.
