Ahli coach Manuel Jose said his side played their worst performance since he took the helm in the 1-1 Egyptian League draw with Tersana on Monday. "Throughout my two-year spell with Ahli, I didn't see as bad as the team's display against Tersana, it looked like a match on the beach rather than real football," Jose told a press conference after the match. Ashraf Shiha curled a low shot home late in the second period to give Tersana a precious 1-1 draw against defending champions Ahli. Ahli were set on the way to a comfortable victory when Emad Meteb scored the opener in the 18th minute but Tersana capitalized on Ahli's drastic dip in form after the break to equalize in the 85th minute. "I'm completely responsible for the draw because the players always follow their leader's instructions, I will discuss with them the reasons behind the disappointing result," the Portuguese added.
Some reports state the players may have been exhausted due to their fast in the holy month of Ramadan, but Jose said there were no external factors behind Ahli's below-par performance. "Tersana players fast just like we do, I have no comments on the referee's decisions and I won't cite lack of rest as a reason for the draw because we have to cope with the surrounding circumstances." Jose called on Ahli fans to flood Cairo Stadium in the team's crucial African Champions League semi-final clash against Ivory Coast's ASEC Mimosas on Sunday. On the other hand, Tersana boss Farouk Gaafar was delighted with the result while paying tribute to veteran striker Hossam Hassan for the role he played in the clash. He also revealed his happiness that none of Ahli players sustained any injury before ASEC game, adding that he hopes the Cairo giants can qualify to the African Champions League final.
