After the announcement of CAF's annual awards, FilGoal.com takes an overview of the winners' achievements which helped them claim the African governing body's prestigious prizes. Club of the Year- Ahli: Over the past three years, after a renovation in the team's squad, Ahli managed to win every competition they participated in with the exception of the Club World Cup Championship. Following a difficult two-year spell in which Ahli failed to win any major trophies, the club's board moved to strengthen their squad, bringing in a host of stars whose presence helped the Cairo giants regain their status as one of the most prominent teams over Africa's history. The arrival of Mohamed Abou-Treika, followed by Mohamed Shawki, Hassan Mostafa, Mohamed Barakat, Islam Al-Shater, Emad Al-Nahhas, Angolan striker Flavio Amado as well as the appearance of youth team academy product Emad Meteb led Ahli back to their normal place on the winners' podium. The African club of the 20th century's domination in both local and continental competitions continued in 2006. Ahli won their first competition of the year in February when they beat Morocco's Royal Armed Forces in the penalties shootout to lift the Super Cup at the Cairo International Stadium. But it was never easy. They had to do without the services of trio Mohamed Barakat, Mohamed Shawki, Wael Gomaa as well as Angolan winger Gilberto who missed due to injury. Ahli rarely threatened Tarek Al-Jarmouni's net while the visitors produced a couple of scares but again, it was the heroics of goalkeeper Essam Al-Hadari which helped the team claim the trophy. Al-Hadari, who played a pivotal role in Egypt's African Cup of Nations triumph two weeks earlier, superbly denied Noureddine Bobou and Mohamed Al-Fadhli's spot-kicks as Ahli won 4-2. After winning the Egyptian League title for the second successive season, Ahli switched their attentions to the CAF Champions League in order to defend their trophy and tie arch-rivals Zamalek's record of five honors.
Jose Although they slumped to a 1-0 defeat against Tunisia's Sfaxien in the group stage opener and received their first continental loss in two years, Ahli made up soon as they defeated JS Kabylie of Algeria 2-0. The Cairo powerhouse continued their fine results and progressed to the competition's semi-finals after finishing second in Group A with 11 points, just one short of leaders Sfaxien. Ahli clashed with ASEC Mimosas and grabbed a 2-0 home win in the first-leg to put one step in the final but the Ivory Coast outfit proved how stubborn they are in the second-leg tie. Flavio stunned the home crowd in the 38th minute as Ahli looked like they have finished off their opponents, however, two second-half goals from ASEC star Didier Ya Konan sparked the Ivorians into life again. ASEC squandered a host of chances as Ahli were relieved to have advanced to the final following a hard battle against the West Africans. At the anticipated clash against Sfaxien in the final, Ahli were aiming to gain revenge from their defeat in the group stage as well as snatching the trophy to hold a joint record with Zamalek. Their hopes suffered a setback after they were held to a 1-1 draw by the Tunisians in the first-leg following a mediocre performance. Ahli had no other choice but to grab a win away from home and that seemed unlikely until the dying minutes of the game when Abou-Treika's brilliant volley went into the bottom corner of the net. Coach of the Year- Manuel Jose: Manuel Jose's status among Ahli fans as their favorite man was a normal result of how much the Portuguese tactician had an impact on every aspect of the team's game. Jose was hired in 2001 and his influence was noticed shortly after a
