Ahli of Egypt has the chance to make history as it fights tomorrow for the African Champions League trophy, Inas Mazhar reports To be or not to be. This is tomorrow's question. Ahli has only one chance and nothing else in its quest for a third straight African Champions League title and a sixth trophy altogether, both continental records. The defending champions need to win against the Tunisian side of L'Etoile after drawing 0-0 in the first leg in Sousse. Playing for a draw won't be in the African club of the century's favour. A scoreless draw means taking the game to penalty kicks, which is mostly a question of luck, while a draw higher than 0-0 means the visitors snatch the trophy from the champions at home. Two years ago, the same two teams met in the final. The first game in Tunisia also ended in a goalless draw before Ahli won 3-0 at home. It's only hours and the result will be known when the referee blows the final whistle at Cairo International Stadium. The final game was scheduled to be held at the Military Stadium, the venue of the 2005 final. Cairo Stadium had been booked for rehearsals by the Armed Forces for the opening ceremony of the pan-Arab Games starting in Egypt on 11 November. But two days after the first-leg match was held in Tunisia, Ahli received the approval of Defence Minister Mohamed Tantawi to allow it to play at the 80,000 seat Cairo International Stadium. The participants at the opening ceremony of the Arab Games would take 9 November off and start preparing the stadium for the opening ceremony immediately after the conclusion of the Ahli-E'toile match and the celebrations of the winning team. The past few days have witnessed an air of tension in the two camps. The game is far from easy and each side has been training in secrecy. A week before the match, the hosts closed the gates to spectators to focus more on the game. No fans or media have been allowed to get closer to the Red camp or attend the training. The technical staff and the players have refused to talk to the media and the football manager Hossam El-Badri called the media to underline the team's need for privacy and peace to concentrate on the decisive game. The visitors were scheduled to arrive on Wednesday morning. They have chosen a quiet five-star hotel on the outskirts of Cairo and a nearby stadium to train in. As the club's vice president Galal Kreifa said, he selected the hotel and the training pitch specifically because of their isolated spots. Tickets went on sale on Tuesday and Ahli, seeking a new ticket sale record, have therefore cancelled all invitations or pre-paid season tickets. Club members had the privilege previously to buy tickets with special prices but this was also cancelled. The second class tickets were also cancelled as the seats were taken out for the opening ceremony of the Arab Games. Therefore, the third class ticket goes for sale for LE30, first class for LE200, and the upper first class ticket for LE75. The front tribune ticket is worth LE500. Security officials from the Ministry of Interior have been meeting and have managed to set up a plan for traffic during that day. Tight security measures have also been considered. Both sides seem optimistic about winning the title. L'Etoile, following the scoreless draw in the first leg match, said they were still capable of winning the title from the Egyptians in Cairo. "We are not afraid of a full house Cairo Stadium. Indeed we feel it brings us luck," said Kreifa. The team's captain and superstar Sber Ben Freg added, "We are a big team as well and we are used to playing under pressure and in such conditions. We won't get worried or tense and will focus on bringing the cup back home." El-Badri said that with all due respect to Ahli's opponents, "Ahli will not give up easily or lose its title to L'Etoile. Another Tunisian club, Sfaxien, is close to claiming the Confederations Cup after losing to Ahli in the final of the Champions league last year. Tunisia's CS Sfaxien moved closer to lifting the Confederations Cup with a stunning 4-2 victory over Sudan's Al-Merrikh in the first leg of the final played in Omdurman earlier this week. Three goals in the early 18 minutes of the first half put Sfax-based side on course for a continental title in two years, after losing out to Ahli in the finals of last year's MTN-CAF Champions League. The Tunisians will make amends for last year's loss by avoiding defeat in the second leg while the Sudanese must score at least four unanswered goals to claim their first continental silverware in 18 years. The result also ends the unbeaten home run of Merrikh who hadn't lost a game in 12 outings in the Confederations Cup in four attempts. Despite playing at home, it was the visitors who stunned the crowd with the opener in the first minute through DR Congo-import Blaise Lelo Mbele before Zambian international Elijah Tana scored an own goal four minutes later. Striker Blaise Kouassi made it three for the visitors after 18 minutes but Merrikh had to wait till the second half to reduce the deficit through Brazilian-born Paulinho Roberto in the 54th minute. Kouassi scored a personal second and number four for the "Arabian Juventus" on the hour mark before Merrikh captain and playmaker Faisal Agab restored the game to a two-goal lead by converting a penalty in the 78th minute. German coach of Merrikh and former Zamalek manager Otto Pfister was shocked at the result which technically ruined their chances of climaxing an outstanding run of Sudanese football. "It's an embarrassing result. I think it will be very difficult for us to bounce back," said the veteran who will be in charge of the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon at next year's Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana. The second leg is fixed for 24 November in Sfax. In other news, the president of the Confederation of African Football Issa Hayatou has been conferred with an honourary doctorate degree in literature by Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Ogbomoso, Oyo state, Nigeria. The event took place at a colourful ceremony held at the university grounds in the presence of the university's governing council, students, members of the CAF Executive Committee and head of national football associations. Hayatou said, "I am deeply touched with this distinguished honour given to Africa football. Through me , let me appeal to the African football family to continue in developing football as well as education in order to equip our kids with weapons to conquer ignorance and move onto development."
