Many of Ahli fans turned a blind eye to the team's fragilities in domestic competitions because winning the league title has become a formality but, with the Champions League prospects under serious threat, they can hardly do so. Ahli need a point from their last four games to wrap up a sixth consecutive league title despite their inconsistent displays and results in the second half of the season. Coach Hossam Al-Badri has been under pressure lately although he helped the team keep safe their favorite title. He was heavily criticized for 'failing to win tactical battles against opposing managers in high-profile games'. He is likely to face fiercer criticism that could also throw his future into doubt after Ahli had yet another poor performance to suffer a 2-0 defeat at Libya's Ittihad in the Champions League round of 16 first leg. Ittihad looked toothless and not that strong but still posed a stern test for Ahli after making the most of an electrifying atmosphere at the packed 11 June Stadium in Tripoli. They scored from two corner kicks to sink an Ahli side who squandered several goalscoring opportunities in the second half and eventually paid for their wastefulness. The same problems Ahli encountered this season came back to haunt them again, but this time there can hardly be any consolation. The Red Devils, the record winners of the Champions League with six titles to their name, face a possible round of 16-exit for the second season running, having lost to Nigeria's Kano Pillar at the same stage last season. Upfront, at the back Ahli used to be very solid at the back and very effective upfront under Portuguese coach Manuel Jose, who was replaced with Al-Badri last summer, to win the Champions League three times in the past five years.
Gomaa is struggling despite his Nations Cup heroics This term it is a wholly different story, with their defenders suffering to keep opposing strikers at bay. Central defender Wael Gomaa, one of Egypt's key players in their triumphant Nations Cup campaign in Angola, looked jaded and was beaten two times in the air to gift Ittihad two goals on Friday. The combative player could not also find a reliable partner in the heart of Ahli's new-look four-man backline, with Ahmed Al-Sayed and summer arrival Sherif Abdul-Fadil failing to impress. "Ittihad's both goals were scored because of our defenders' recurrent mistakes," Al-Badri said on Ahli's official website. "This is a serious problem that we have to address as soon as possible." The strike problem is even deeper. Emad Meteb is the only frontman trusted by Al-Badri but he has been plagued by injuries this season. Despite being out of action for a considerable time, the Egyptian international is Ahli's top scorer with nine goals. When he was missing, the likes of Francis Doe, Mohamed Fadl, Hani Al-Egeizi, Ahmed Belal and Osama Hosni were easily contained by defenders. Liberian Doe played as a lone striker against Ittihad after Meteb picked up a back injury but he could not rise to the occasion. Al-Egeizi was introduced late in the game but he was equally unimpressive.
Adel still unable to cement his place in Ahli's starting line up "Every match we see a new striker playing. Stability is nowhere to be seen in Ahli's frontline," former Egypt manager and Nile Sport analyst Mohsen Saleh commented. Undependable Keepers The Cairo giants do not boast a dependable goalkeeper as they have been struggling to fill in for Egypt guardian Essam Al-Hadari since his abrupt departure in February 2008. They bought Sherif Ekrami, who ended an unsuccessful spell with Dutch side Feyenoord, in January but he is yet to win over the fans after some inconsistent performances. Ahmed Adel, who came through Ahli's youth ranks, is considered their regular keeper but he hardly produces assured displays between the sticks. He let a tame header from Ittihad striker Ahmed Zuway sail over his head and into the net for the Libyan side's second goal that will leave Ahli with an uphill to climb in the second leg. Ahli's squad still includes several stars, but they all do similar jobs. The likes of Mohamed Abou-Treika, Mohamed Barakat, Ahmed Hassan and rising stars Afrotto and Ahmed Shokri are used as attacking midfielders. The team await the summer transfer window to strengthen their ranks, according to marketing director Adli Al-Qaeyi. "The coming period is crucial, so we need to sign stars and renowned players," Al-Qaeyi, the man responsible of recruiting several stars in the 2000s including talisman Abou-Treika, said.
