Ahli will not sit back to defend their narrow first-leg advantage when they meet Esperance away from home in the African Champions League, coach Hossam Al-Badri said. The Red Devils, the record winners of the Champions League with six titles, secured a 2-1 victory over Tunisia's Esperance in the first leg of the competition's semi final at Cairo Stadium on Sunday. "No, we will not defend in Tunisia," Al-Badri told Egyptian radio when asked whether his side could adopt a cautious approach when they meet Esperance in a fortnight. "We always prefer the attacking display. We can win away from home." A controversial goal by Mohamed Fadl, who was lucky to escape punishment over handball, gave Ahli the lead seven minutes before the break in front of a sell-out crowd at the 74,100-seat stadium. A thunderbolt from right-back Ahmed Fathi doubled Ahli's advantage but Esperance captain Oussama Darragi gave the visitors a lifeline with a 73rd-minute goal. He made the most of a blunder from Ahli keeper Sherif Ekrami, who spilled an innocuous cross into his path. "I'm satisfied with the display of my players tonight," Al-Badri, who won the Champions League three times when he was an assistant to former Ahli coach Manuel Jose, added.
Doe was lively against Esperance "But I'm not so satisfied with the result though. We could have avoided the goal we conceded." Al-Badri was also full of praise for Liberian striker Francis Doe, who kept Esperance defenders on their toes with a battling display upfront although he did not get on the scoresheet. Doe was widely criticized for failing to prove his worth since joining in the summer of 2009 but he is gradually winning over Ahli's fans. "Everybody attacked me for keeping faith in Doe but I had trust in his abilities," Al-Badri commented. "He became a valuable member of our squad after the performance he produced today." The 24-year-old was substituted in the latter stages with a suspected broken nose after a high tackle from an opponent. Al-Badri also criticized Libyan referee Adel Errai, who prompted a furious reaction from Esperance players when he allowed Ahli's first goal to stand. "The referee denied us two clear penalties and didn't protect my players from the bad tackles they were subjected to, especially Doe," he said.
