CAIRO - JS Kabylie of Algeria maintained their unbeaten run in this year's African Champions League (ACL) with a 1-0 win over Ismaili Friday night. Nigerian import Izu Azuka's goal four minutes from time settled the tie as the Algerians won again in Tizi Ouzu. The result effectively killed off any lingering hopes the Egyptian side had of reaching the semi-finals. But it handed a massive boost to another Egyptian outfit Al-Ahly who play against Heartland on Sunday night in Cairo. If the Red Devils of Cairo beat their Nigerian visitors, they will claim the other semi-final place from Group B. Although Ahly are likely to survive the group-stage cull, their difficult-to-please supporters are calling for the head of coach Hossam el-Badry after being held at home by JS Kabylie two weeks ago. El-Badry, a 50-year-old former Ahly star, has also had to endure media speculation that the most successful club in African Football Confederation competitions with 14 titles are seeking a foreign replacement for him. "I'm saddened by the reaction of our supporters," El-Badry told the Egyptian media, referring to plastic bottles hurled at players after the Algerians came from behind to draw 1-1 before a sell-out 74,000 Cairo Stadium crowd. "I am subjected to huge psychological pressure because fans always compare me to Manuel Jose. These comparisons are drawn despite the fact that we won the national league title last year." Wily Portuguese coach Jose is certainly a difficult act to follow, having masterminded four African Champions League titles during two spells with the Red Devils plus countless domestic honours. El-Badri must do without former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Hossam Ghaly, serving a four-match ban for being sent off in the away loss to Kabylie, but should prove too strong for goal-shy 2009 runners-up Heartland.
