Ahli secured a 2-1 victory over Tunisia's Bizertin to claim their ticket to the CAF Champions League group stage. A penalty from Mohamed Barakat and an Emad Meteb header lifted the defending champions, who survived a nervous ending to the game. Nour Hadhria scored from the spot for Bizertin to reduce the deficit as Ahli were fortunate to survive a big miss from the Tunisians to snatch a draw. Ahli cruised to the quarters for the eighth time in nine years, joining local rivals Zamalek and last year's runners-up Esperance. Quick goals...terrible miss! Ahli were expectedly on top and Bizertin keeper Farouk Ben Mostafa denied a wonder goal when he palmed away a superb Ahmed Abdul-Zaher volley in the first chance of the game. The ensuing corner resulted in almost another goal, with Abdullah Al-Saied hitting the side netting from range. But Ahli got their opener right after the break when Meteb won a penalty that was successfully converted by Barakat. Ben Mostafa thwarted another fantastic effort by Abdul-Zaher, whose overhead kick seemed goal-bound until the vigilant Tunisian keeper interfered. But the veteran goalie was left stranded when Meteb headed home a typical Ahli move, courtesy of a Barakat cross into the six-yard box. The Reds then conceded a silly penalty following a rash challenge by Saad Samir, allowing Hadhria to pull one back. The moment of the match came just after Bizertin's goal when Rwandan striker Olivier Karakezi shockingly missed an empty net from close range, with Wael Gomaa deserving credit for a desperate attempt to cover.
