Ahli boss Manuel Jose said his side will be looking for a victory when they meet ASEC Mimosas in Abidjan on Sunday to close on CAF Champions League semi-finals. The Cairo giants beat Hilal of Sudan 2-0 in Group B opener and another victory over ASEC would put them in pole position to advance to the semis as they seek an unprecedented third successive title. "ASEC are a powerful team who has a very good history in Champions League but our philosophy is to win every match whether it is at home or away," Jose was quoted as saying by the club's official website on Thursday. "If we win this match and then defeated Esperance our qualification to the semi-finals will be almost guaranteed." The Portuguese tactician played down suggestions that the match will not be difficult given that the Ivory Coast outfit dispensed with many players.
Ahli are looking for third successive Champions League title "These suggestions are not true, most of ASEC stars stayed and they won't be an easy opponent. They are characterized by their tough and pacey style as well as the harmony between players." Jose admitted Ahli players are suffering from exhaustion as the Egyptian Cup, which they won, has just finished but insisted the Red Devils can cope. "We played three matches against Hilal, Ismaili and Zamalek in the space of eight days, with the latter match being forced into extra-time." "We flew to Abidjan right after Zamalek clash and the trip was very exhausting, however, we intend to continue our adventure with the same enthusiasm in order to grab more achievements," he added. The former Sporting Lisbon coach revealed that goalkeeper Essam Al-Hadari will return between the sticks against ASEC after stand-in goalie Amir Abdul-Hamid was given the nod in the Egyptian Cup.
