Ahli are one step away from the CAF Champions League group stage as they host ambitious Zambian side ZESCO United at Cairo Stadium on Sunday night. The Red Devils need a victory to avoid an upset from their opponents, who could only claim a 0-0 home draw in Ndola in the first leg two weeks ago. Manuel Jose may have led the Egyptian giants to a record four Champions League titles, but the Portuguese's latest experience on the continental stage was anything but pleasant. It was at this stage when Ahli suffered a shock exit to Nigerian minnows Kano Pillars, before being kicked out of the Confederation Cup at the hands of Angola's Santos. The poor result came when Jose was on brink of leaving Ahli, but this time the 64-year-old seems ready to avoid another upset. "We studied them well during the first leg and know how they play. Ahli are ready to reach the group stage by eliminating ZESCO," Jose said. "ZESCO caused problems for us with their long balls and physical approach and we cannot take anything for granted ahead of the return match in Cairo." The Egyptian champions will have to produce a much better performance than the one that saw them edge Gouna 1-0 last week though; a victory that was hardly satisfying for Jose. Depleted squad Ahli enter the game with a number of big-name absentees, including talismanic playmaker Mohamed Abou-Treika and first-choice sweeper Hossam Ghaly.
Kano Pillars were the last team to eliminate Ahli from the last 16 Treika has been ruled out with a calf problem to join the injury list including Emad Meteb, Mohamed Fadl, Ahmed Shokri and Sherif Ekrami. In-form Algerian Amir Sayoud is ineligible, so is veteran Ahmed Hassan; a dilemma which will likely force Jose to turn to the unfit Mohamed Barakat for the playmaker role. At the back, sweeper Ghaly is suspended as center-half Sherif Abdul-Fadil looks set to step in for the role beside Ahmed Al-Sayed and Wael Gomaa. Confident ZESCO In the same manner by which he approached the first leg, ZESCO coach Fighton Simukonda seemed confident as ever of causing a major upset and beating the six-time champs at home. "We have been written off, ok...that is fine, but it has given us the spirit to go and fight and win. We will shame all those who are talking ill about us," the ex-Zambia international said. "Many people have told me that this draw means that we are out of the competition, that's not it. Yes, Ahli is a good side, if we can draw with them, then we can beat them even in their country. "They will be under pressure, they will want to score early goals to impress their fans and that is where we will capitalize on them." ZESCO's only Champions League group stage berth came two years ago when they eliminated Mali's AC Djoliba from the last 16.
