Ahli of Egypt is on course to win a record third straight African Champions League title after beating Libya's Al-Ittihad in the semi-finals. Inas Mazhar watched the game in Cairo Stadium Ahli beat Libya's Al-Ittihad by a lone goal to qualify on aggregate while Etoile du Sahel of Tunisia thrashed Sudan's Al-Hilal 3-1 to advance on a 4-3 aggregate to set the stage for a repeat of the 2005 grand finale. Ahli won the 2005 final 3-0 on aggregate. For the Egyptian giants, this will be their third successive final appearance in the continent's most prestigious club competition. The first leg of the final is scheduled for Sousse on the weekend of 27-28 October with the return leg in Cairo a fortnight later. In the Confederation Cup, the second biggest African football club championship, it will be Sfaxien, again of Tunisia, against newcomers Al-Merrikh of Sudan. In Cairo, though Ahli made it to the final, few were satisfied with the result or the performance of the African champions. Even though it was Ramadan, a high spectator turnout came out on Sunday for the second leg semi-final, the first ending in Tripoli scoreless. Many had brought their food and drink with them and broke their fast at sunset in the stadium. And after regaining their strength, they started supporting the team enthusiastically three hours before the 9.30 kick-off. Ittihad defender Osama Al-Hamadi scored an own goal, the sole of the match, 19 minutes into the match, the ball skipping across his head past goalkeeper Samir Aboud. Most Ahli players were out of form, notably Mohamed Abou-Treika and Mohamed Barakat, while strikers Flavio Amadou and Emad Meteb continued their goal scoring droughts. Meteb, though, was the man of the match. He admitted later that he could not remember how many chances he had missed but was glad he was back at his peak nonetheless. The last 10 minutes were the most critical in the game, as the visitors took advantage of Ahli defensive lapses and launched a series of attacks during which Ittihad's Pierre Kolibaly was shown the red card for aggressive play. More than 50,000 spectators held their breath for five minutes of injury time before exhaling upon the final whistle. Ahli are now seeking not only a third African title but a third consecutive appearance at the World Club Championship in Japan later this year, which would be unprecedented at the world level. A third African Champions League title for Ahli would take their tally to an unprecedented African six, one more ahead of arch rivals Zamalek. Following the match, Manuel Jose, Ahli's head coach, said he was glad to have led his team to a third Championships League final. But he wasn't too happy about the performance. "Everyone knows how much our players are tired as they play in such a tight schedule. For some players like Abou-Treika they had bad luck and it's normal. It happens in football, the ups and downs. For Emad it was his day and I told him so before the match and I was sure he would score. He tried but was unlucky. But his performance was better than the last period and I can tell him now that we need him in the final and I'm sure that he will be more productive once he regains his self-confidence." Jose said he believed the final would not be easy against Etoile but that he has an advantage of scoring in the first leg away match. "If you win 2-0 or 3-0 or even score an away goal, it will make it easier for you back here in the final in Cairo. I don't like a 0-0 result. It is always a risk," he told reporters after the game. Jose also underlined the busy schedule of his team which has to play in various competitions without proper rest. "It looks like we have 20 days to prepare for Etoile, but how when the key players will join the national team in a training camp in preparation for the African qualifier match against Botswana on Saturday? Then they are travelling with the national team for a friendly in Japan and we all know how the players suffer from jet lap. My players have been playing non-stop for four years. "However, we will play to win and claim the third cup in a row." Serbian coach of Ittihad Branko Smiljanic said he wasn't very happy. "You can't be satisfied with your team when you are a loser. Ahli is a big team and a big name. Today Ittihad showed they were big as well as they held Ahli at times during the game. Of course not as big as Ahli, but still we weren't a team to underestimate. "Libyan football has shown great progress in the last few years and there are many talented players around in the country. "I've played against Etoile twice in the group stage. They were not the same team like they were in 2005. Still, if Ahli play them as they did against us they will definitely beat them," added Smiljanic. Earlier on Saturday, Etoile completed a double of Tunisian clubs in the finals of the two continental club championships courtesy of a 3-1 victory over Al-Hilal of Sudan in the African Champions League. Etoile qualified 4-3 on aggregate despite a 1-2 loss in the first leg a fortnight ago in Khartoum to join fellows CS Sfaxien, who reached the final of the Confederations Cup with a 2-1 win over Mamelodi Sundowns in the ultimate Group A clash. The Tunisians, who had failed to annex the title on two occasions in 2004 and 2005, confirmed another final appearance thanks to a brace from Armine Chermiti and a goal from Saber Ben Fej to end the campaign of the Sudanese champions. Chermiti opened the score in the 16th minute from a well taken-header before Ben Frej doubled the lead seven minutes after recess by connecting home from a goal mouth melee. Nigerian-born striker Godwin Ndubuisi drew parity for Hilal on aggregate by reducing the deficit three minutes later by finishing off a cross from a colleague on the left side of attack. In the 63rd minute, Chermiti dashed the hopes of Hilal with the third goal from a free-kick that beat goalkeeper Abubakar Sherif for their third final in four years. Sfaxien and Al-Merrikh of Sudan reached the finals by emerging as winners of their respective groups after the ultimate Confederation Cup matches was cleared over the weekend. Sfaxien beat South African champions Mamelodi Sundowns 2-1 in Pretoria to remain at the apex of Group A on 13 points, one more than close contenders T.P. Mazembe who also beat Astres 2-1 in Douala, Cameroon. For Group B, despite a 0-3 loss away at Dolphins, Merrikh went through courtesy of superior goals after both clubs finished on 10 points while Ismaili of Egypt redeemed their image in the competition with a lone goal victory over Nigeria's Kwara United. The match, though, was meaningless for both teams who were ousted early from the Confederations Cup. Dolphins could have edged Merrikh at the summit of the table with a 5-0 victory for their second final appearance in two years. Sfaxien, losing finalists in last year's MTN-CAF Champions League realised their second successive appearance in the finals of a major continental club championship thanks to a late strike by Blaise Mbelo Lelo. The DR Congo striker's 88th minute goal ensured the maximum points for the Sfax-based side after veteran striker Peter Ndlovu had put the homesters in front after 10 minutes with a superb finish from a Josta Dladla pass. Midfielder Chadi Hammani headed home the equaliser eight minutes from time to put his side in strong contention for the $300,000 monetary reward. In Douala, a brace from leading striker Tresor Mputu (17th and 60th) pushed visiting T.P. Mazembe to a 2-1 victory over Astres after Hans Ossah had put the Cameroonians through after eight minutes. It was Mazembe's first win away from home but it was not enough to aid their dreams of playing in the finals. Santos Mutumbila, coach of the DR Congo side said his team had learnt some valuable lessons from their campaign and will beef up his squad for a successful campaign next year. In Group B, a ninth minute own goal by Merrikh defender Baha Dine made all to believe that Dolphins were on course for the five goal magic figure but erratic shooting up front by their frontmen ensured it remained a daydream. Striker Owazouke Wobo doubled the after 23 minutes from the spot after he was fouled in the box by a hard-pressed defender of the Sudanese giants before Thankgod Amaefule increased the tally to three, also from the spot four minutes past the hour mark. But the tight defensive play of Merrikh ensured that the two goals Dolphins needed to complete their quest remained elusive. In Ismailia a first half strike from Youssef Gamal gave Ismaili their second win of the competition and the first in their last four outings in all competitions. The former African champions, who appointed former player Ismail Hefni in the days leading up to the continental tie in place of manager Taha Bisri, placed third on eight points with Kwara perched comfortably at the bottom on five points. The first leg of the Confederation finals is scheduled for the weekend on 2-4, November with the return encounter fixed for 23-25 November.
