It's not just the electricity which is weak in Egypt these days. The country's three representatives in Africa's premier club football tournaments could not muster one win, reports Abeer Anwar JS Kabylie of Algeria and Cairo giants Ahli drew 1-1 in their Orange CAF Champions League at Cairo Stadium, giving JSK firm hold of Group B. With two games remaining, JSK have 10 points, five more than second place Ahli. Heartland of Nigeria hold on to third place with four points after beating Ismaili of Egypt who are rock bottom with three points. Ahli drew first blood through newcomer Mohamed "Gedo" Nagi on the 22th minute but Saad Tedjar drew five minutes later to end the first half and the match 1-1. Although the Algerian attacker Yehia Al-Chaerif was kicked out of the match at the end of the first half for receiving two yellow cards, the one-man advantage for the full second half did not help Ahli who showed little attacking initiative against a massed JSK defence. Mohamed Cherif Hannachi, JS Kabylie's head of delegation, thanked Ahli officials and all Egyptians for the way they were treated and received in Egypt, which was in marked contrast to what Ahli experienced in Algeria two weeks ago in the first-leg when their bus was stoned before and after the match. In Cairo, however, Ahli club president Hassan Hamdi was at Cairo Airport to welcome the visitors. "We are very happy with the draw that will take us to the semi-finals easily," Hannachi said. Perhaps the biggest casualty of the night besides Ahli was their coach Hossam El-Badri who was lambasted by the fans and the press for the slow tempo of his team in addition to some questionable substitutions. Ahli supporters are demanding that El-Badri step down and kept calling for Manuel Jose, the Portuguese manager who left Ahli last year after collecting a number of memorable titles and victories. Well aware of the commotion surrounding him and his future with Ahli, El-Badri said," I am very disappointed in the players who were unable to attack and also in the fans who attacked me viciously for the loss. I admit I carry the whole responsibility but I am sure we will be able to soldier on and qualify to the finals." El-Badri admitted Ahli were lacking in their front line-up, pledging to try to find attacking players to make up for the deficiency. In the same group, Ismaili put themselves in a big hole after losing 2-1 to Heartland of Nigeria, denting their hopes of going to the semis. Playing at 3pm at the Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri, the fasting Ismaili players had a hard time of it in the heat. They had asked the CAF a week earlier to change the time to either 12 noon or 8pm but were turned down. They also complained about the pitch which they described as not being fit to play on. Ismaili's Mohamed Suleiman Ali opened the scoring on the 29th minute but Ike ThankGod drew for Heartland just before the break. On the 85thh minute of the encounter, midfielder Chinedu Efugh scored to give his team the win. Despite their win, Heartland coach Samson Siasia blamed his defenders and strikers for a poor outing. Heartland will meet Ahli in Cairo on 12 September. In the same championship, Tunisian giants Esperance inched closer to the semi-finals of the Orange CAF Champions League with a 3-0 win over holders TP Mazembe in their Group A clash on Saturday in Rades. Esperance have nine points, two points richer than second place Mazembe, with Entente Setif and Dynamos in that order with four and three points respectively. In the Orange CAF Confederation Cup at the Sunset Stadium in Lusaka, Egypt's Haras Al-Hodoud drew withZambia's Zanaco 1-1 in their Group B clash. Haras missed a number of key players including Mohamed Hamed and goalie Mathurin Kameni. Matthews Macha of Zanaco fired the first goal, but Ahmed Salama answered back. With the result, Al-Hodoud have two points whilst Zanaco remain at the bottom on one point. Sudanese giants Al-Hilal twice came from behind to beat AS FAN of Niger 4-2 in their Orange CAF Confederation Cup Group A in Omdurman. Libyan champions Al Ittihad shocked Malian giants Djoliba, beating them 1-0 in their clash in Bamako on Sunday. Hilal have six points, Ittihad trail on three points with Djoliba and AS FAN in that order on one point apiece. Twice winners CS Sfaxien took a giant step towards a place at the next round with 3-0 win over FUS Rabat of Morocco in the Orange CAF Confederation Cup Group B clash on Saturday in Sfax. Sfax lead the standings on four points, FUS Rabat on three points, Al-Hodoud have two points and Zanaco in that order with one point.
