Al-Hilal of Sudan host Egypt's Ismaili in the African Champions League (ACL) first-leg last 16 on Sunday. Ismaili, who are anxious to progress in the local league, are hoping to win this match, in order to stand them in good stead for the second leg in Cairo in a fortnight's time. The Canal-based club Ismaili may miss their first goalkeeper Essam el-Hadari due to flu. The Egypt guardian missed Ismaili's training on Friday after catching a cold. Ismaili's medical team are doing their best to help him recover in time for the game, the club said on their official website Friday night. El-Hadari, who was involved in a dispute with the club's board earlier this season over back pay, also missed both legs as Ismaili defeated Tamponnaise of Reunion Island 3-2 on aggregate to book a last-16 berth. Stand-in keeper Mohamed Sobhi will deputise for el-Hadari against Hilal if the veteran goalie misses the match. Sobhi, who extended his Ismaili contract in January, has produced some fine displays between the sticks in el-Hadari's absence. Ismaili's coach Emad Soleiman, meanwhile, has been watching a videotape of Hilal to get an idea of their tactics and performance. In the same competition, Al-Ahly face possible exit from the ACL for the second season running as they conceded two goals from corners to lose 2-0 at Libya's Ittihad in the first leg on Friday night in Tripoli. Ittihad's striker Ahmed Zuway created the opener for central defender Younes el-Shibani after 13 minutes and headed home the second late in the game to give his side a surprising victory. Ahly, the record winners of the Champions League with six titles, will have a steep hill to climb when they host Ittihad at Cairo Stadium in two weeks' time. The Red Devils will be looking to avoid last season's scenario when they lost to Nigeria's Kano Pillars to miss out on a place in the group stage of Africa's premier competition and settle for a spot in the Confederation Cup. Zuway beat Wael Gomaa to a corner kick to flick the ball into the path of the unmarked el-Shibani, who headed home from close range to send the home fans into raptures. Ahly enjoyed better possession afterwards, but hardly threatened Ittihad, lacking the spark and imagination of inspirational playmaker Mohamed Abou Treika, who started on the bench. Attacking midfielders Ahmed Shokri, Ahmed Hassan and Mohamed Barakat played behind lone striker Francis Doe, who replaced the injured Emad Met'eb in Ahly's starting line-up, but could not support him in a scrappy first half. Ahly's only chance before the break fell to Egypt skipper Hassan, whose shot from inside the area narrowly missed the target after a goal-mouth scramble. Ahly came on with all guns blazing in the second period, thanks to the energy of Liberian Doe and the introduction of Abou Treika, who replaced Shokri. The visitors wasted several clear-cut chances which could have helped them gain the upper hand against Ittihad, who looked toothless despite putting in a spirited display. Hassan chested down a cross from left-back Sayyed Moawad on the hour mark to shrug off his marker, but he shinned his shot over the bar. Al-Ahly were punished for their wastefulness when Ittihad doubled their lead in the 73rd minute. Zuway once again overcame Gomaa in the air, but this time he headed goalwards rather than setting up a teammate after a corner from the right. Ahly said they were annoyed by a laser beam aimed by Ittihad of Libya fans on keeper Ahmed Adel during the game. "The home fans tried to unsettle Adel and affect his concentration by targeting him with a laser beam," Ahly's football director Hadi Khashaba said on the club's official website after the game. "We'd already informed the referee before the game that we were worried about that. We have asked the match commissioner to include the incident in his match report." "This was inexplicable behaviour from Ittihad supporters," Al-Ahly said in another statement on their website. "The stones also injured midfielder Mohamed Barakat. We have asked the match commissioner to report those incidents to Confederation of African Football (CAF)," Khashaba added.
