Ahli goalie Sherif Ekrami says his teammates had every right to lose their nerve during the 1-0 loss at Esperance in the CAF Champions League on Sunday, citing 'unfair refereeing' as a reason for their behavior. The game was notably ill-tempered as it witnessed a number of rows between both teams. The visitors protested against many refereeing decisions too. Only seconds after the kickoff, Mickael Eneramo flagrantly extended his arm while diving to poke home from point-blank range, a strike that was enough for the hosts to reach the competition final. On top of that, Ahli played over an hour with ten men after mercurial midfielder Mohamed Barakat received a straight red card in the first half, another controversial judgment that stirred controversy. "The referee is partial," Ekrami told Egyptian radio after the match. "All his decisions were absurd, especially after the goal we conceded. He made us all edgy. "Do not blame Ahli's players for their nervousness. They were under immense pressure throughout the match."
