The build up to Ahli's Champions League clash at Algeria's JS Kabylie on Sunday was dominated by contradictory headlines – a warm reception and a stoned bus. Things looked bright and on the right road when Kabylie warmly welcomed Ahli's contingent in an attempt to ease tensions between Egypt and Algeria after two bad-tempered World Cup qualifiers last year. Several Ahli officials and players, including inspirational playmaker Mohamed Abou-Treika, said they were grateful to Kabylie for ensuring the Egyptian champions enjoyed a comfortable stay in Algeria. However, Saturday night was not so comfortable for an Ahli side who were preparing to hold their training session when some people hurled stones at their bus to injure striker Osama Hosni and central defender Ahmed Al-Sayed. Ahli chairman Hassan Hamdi immediately reported the incident to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) representative. Ironically, Ahli survived another bus incident, but for a natural cause, the day before when it was about to flip over due to heavy rain. Individual Act "What happened today is an individual act that will not affect the Egyptian-Algerian relations," Hamdi, who heads Ahli's delegation in Algeria, said in the aftermath of the unfortunate incident. "It will not affect the players, everything is fine now," the mild-mannered chairman added. Ahli players will need to prove Hamdi right at 11 November Stadium if they are to take a giant stride towards a place in the semi finals of Africa's premier competition, which they won a record six times.
Ismaili eye first win They have four points in Group B, two behind Kabylie who are in pole position to go through after beating fellow Egyptian side Ismaili and Nigeria's Heartland in their first two matches. Ahli coach Hossam Al-Badri will be hoping that Lebanese striker Mohamed Ghaddar, who joined in the close season, will solve the strike problem that hit the team following the departure of Emad Meteb. None of the several marksmen at Al-Badri's disposal have really proved that they can spearhead Ahli's attack. Mohamed Talaat is likely to be fielded as a lone striker against Kabylie, while Ghaddar could be drafted in after the break. Earlier in the day, Ismaili and Heartland lock horns in a decisive clash that could end the African adventure of one of them. Ismaili, who won the title once in 1969, failed to bag any points after losing two consecutive games against Kabylie and Ahli. They have no option but to overcome Heartland, who are also in dire need of victory after collecting just one point from two games. "I think there is still some hope, but only if we win the next two games against Heartland," Ismaili skipper Mohamed Hommos said. "We are steadily improving and I think we'll be in good shape against the Nigerian side."
