As the CAF Champions League showdown between Ahli and Coton Sport looms, the Reds fans are keeping their fingers crossed, praying for an exhilarating win that would conclude a remarkable African campaign. Although the Cairo giants' 2-0 victory over the Cameroonian outfit in the first leg is theoretically reassuring, it's not nearly enough for the anticipating supporters, who would never tolerate successive slipped-away triumphs. Last year, the continental title was at the Egyptian champions' mercy, but the dream turned into a nightmare when they slumped to a humiliating 3-1 home defeat by Etoile Sahel in the final match. The ardent fans were horrendously shocked when Jose's men finished as runners-up despite the heavy Ahli-Favoring odds, and now they are oversensitive more than ever. Supporters' relentless attitude and intensive media hype, which always precedes pivotal games, gradually intensify pre-match pressure, and that might cost dearly. High expectations are usually met with bitter disappointments, and vice-versa. When Ahli were regarded as undisputed shoo-ins for the prestigious title last season, they surprisingly ended up languishing in second place. Conversely, when they had no substantial chance in the year before, they brought the golden medal home after registering an emphatic 1-0 win over Tunisia's Sfaxien, who had the home advantage and score superiority through a 1-1 away draw in the first leg. This year, the majority of pro-Ahli football fanatics deemed the 2-0 victory over Coton Sport a setback that might jeopardize the team's winning prospects, as they were hoping for a win by a larger margin. The fans, again, fueled speculations that weren't realized, and thus got depressed. This kind of reactions could abysmally affect the players, who are halfway to an unprecedented sixth Champions League title. Indeed, the five-time African champions could have thrashed the out-of-sorts finalists, but the result is far from frustrating after all, and the team are still on the brink of a new achievement.
High expectations are usually met with bitter disappointments, and vice-versa. When Ahli were regarded as undisputed shoo-ins for the prestigious title last season, they surprisingly ended up languishing in second place. Double-edged Sword The Red Devils have come a long way in the last decade. Their appetite for success is always insatiable, exactly like their own supporters. Winning spirit could be a double-edged sword though, an everlasting catalyst on one hand, and a stressful approach on the other. The record-breaking fourth consecutive qualification for the final round is not the end of the line, as victory would be the only rewarding result for the club and fans, but the latter could inadvertently make the objective harder than it really is. Ahli's chances are as high as last year 'hopefully the end would be different'. The first leg was a doddle, and their opponents are obviously not up to scratch. The only fly in the ointment is the venue. The match is taking place in Garoua and Ahli will have to cope with the home capacity crowd, which is no ‘mission impossible' and there is no reason to make a big deal out of it. However, the eagerly-awaited fixture is of a particular and unusual importance, and that's what makes it massively worrying for the Egyptian side. Claiming this title would be a historical feat for Ahli, as they would be the only team to have won the CAF Champions League title six times, not to mention booking a berth in the FIFA Club World Cup for the third time. Moreover, they would be ahead of their arch-rivals Zamalek, who also have five Champions League trophies on their shelf, in all competitions on both local and African stages. The dream is again within grasp, and all Ahli fans need to keep their fingers crossed till November 16th, and also have to moderate their 'winning spirit' to give their team a pressure-free morale boost.
