An unprecedented sixth Champions League title awaits Ahli as they meet Cameroon's Coton Sport in the second-leg of the competition's final on Sunday. Having won the first-leg 2-0 at Cairo Stadium, the Red Devils are well equipped to demonstrate their superiority in the Dark Continent through clinching their third African title in four years. "There is a state of optimism among the players and the technical staff, we know our fans are eager for the trophy, and so we want to make them happy," Ahli assistant coach Hossam Al-Badri said. Ahli's path to the final saw them finish on top of Group A that featured arch-rivals Zamalek, Zimbabwe's Dynamos and ASEC Mimosas of Ivory Coast. The Cairo giants then defeated Nigeria's Enyimba 1-0 on aggregate to set up a meeting with Coton Sport, who are chasing their first ever continental title. "We will have the advantage of playing at home, where Ahli will have to deal with a lot more determination from our players," Coton striker Ousmalia Baba said. Tough Conditions Ahli, who will be at full-strength against Coton, should overcome some tough conditions if they are to avoid an upset similar to the one they head last year when they lost to Tunisia's Etoile Sahel. "The temperature was 40 degrees Celsius when Ahli held their training session on Saturday," the club said on their official website. There were also accommodation problems for the five-time African champions. "Everything in Garoua is below par. The players are busy chasing insects and bugs," Ibrahim Al-Meneisi, Ahli's magazine editor-in-chief, told the clubs' TV channel. The TV camera then spotted a lizard bustling in a nearby marsh.
Home Support Coton will be relying on their home strength. The nine-time Cameroonian champions are yet to lose or even concede at home in this season's Champions League. "The fans will come to the game in their numbers to support the team as this strategy has helped us from the start of this competition," Coton coach Alain Ouombleon told BBC Sport. "We need to take a lot of risk if we are to win the trophy and that is by finding the right balance between the attack and defense. "That is why it is important that our supporters should not only buy their tickets and sit to watch the game but they must give their best support." It remains to be seen whether home support would benefit Coton against their much more fancied opponents. Ahli are yet to taste defeat in Africa's premier competition this season, having outplayed every opponent so far. Read also Ahli's superiority against Coton's confidence Ahli's road to a sixth Champions League title No expectations no disappointments
