ACL 2005 (1 Viewer)
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Defending champions Enyimba of Nigeria must avoid defeat away to Ahly of Egypt this weekend if they are to seal an African Champions League semi-finals place.
Ahly have 11 points and an unassailable lead in Group A entering the final series of pool games, leaving Enyimba, on seven points, and Morocco's Raja Casablanca to fight for second spot.
Raja, who have five points, have a less intimidating assignment away to winless Ajax Cape Town of South Africa.
Victory for Raja will lift them to eight points, but one point will suffice for Enyimba because of their superior head-to-head record.
Ahly may have secured passage to the penultimate phase of a competition carrying a one-million-dollar first prize and an invitation to December's inaugural Fifa Club World Championship in Japan, but there is a lot at stake for them.
The 'Red Devils' of Cairo boast a 40-match unbeaten record in competitive matches and Portuguese coach Manuel Jose says his players are thriving on the challenge.
Ahly hold a psychological edge over Enyimba having won in Nigeria two months ago courtesy of an early goal from Emad Moteab, who has scored five Champions League goals this year.
Only Enyimba's eight-goal Joetex Frimpong has been deadlier this year, but the Ghanaian could miss the Cairo clash after being carried off in last weekend's World Cup qualifier against Uganda.
Leaders Zamalek of Egypt and Etoile Sahel of Tunisia have collected the Group B tickets to the semi-finals, and their showdown in the Mediterranean town of Sousse will decide who ends first and avoids Ahly in the next round.
Zamalek have a two-point advantage so a draw will suffice and the 'White Knights' of Cairo can draw confidence from a come-from-behind 2-1 away win over Esperance, the other Tunisian competitors.
Esperance complete their schedule away to Ivorian outfit Asec, a young, skilful side who deserve better than bottom place, and victory in Abidjan will lift them above the legendary Tunis-based 'Blood and Golds'.
Asec will be without 30-year-old striker Alhassane Koivogui, who joined opponents Etoile this week and so will miss the game.
"It is a big move for me at this stage of my career," the Guinean said recently.
"Etoile told me they liked my fighting spirit, but I will miss the ASEC fans, they have been great to me."
Ahly have 11 points and an unassailable lead in Group A entering the final series of pool games, leaving Enyimba, on seven points, and Morocco's Raja Casablanca to fight for second spot.
Raja, who have five points, have a less intimidating assignment away to winless Ajax Cape Town of South Africa.
Victory for Raja will lift them to eight points, but one point will suffice for Enyimba because of their superior head-to-head record.
Ahly may have secured passage to the penultimate phase of a competition carrying a one-million-dollar first prize and an invitation to December's inaugural Fifa Club World Championship in Japan, but there is a lot at stake for them.
The 'Red Devils' of Cairo boast a 40-match unbeaten record in competitive matches and Portuguese coach Manuel Jose says his players are thriving on the challenge.
Ahly hold a psychological edge over Enyimba having won in Nigeria two months ago courtesy of an early goal from Emad Moteab, who has scored five Champions League goals this year.
Only Enyimba's eight-goal Joetex Frimpong has been deadlier this year, but the Ghanaian could miss the Cairo clash after being carried off in last weekend's World Cup qualifier against Uganda.
Leaders Zamalek of Egypt and Etoile Sahel of Tunisia have collected the Group B tickets to the semi-finals, and their showdown in the Mediterranean town of Sousse will decide who ends first and avoids Ahly in the next round.
Zamalek have a two-point advantage so a draw will suffice and the 'White Knights' of Cairo can draw confidence from a come-from-behind 2-1 away win over Esperance, the other Tunisian competitors.
Esperance complete their schedule away to Ivorian outfit Asec, a young, skilful side who deserve better than bottom place, and victory in Abidjan will lift them above the legendary Tunis-based 'Blood and Golds'.
Asec will be without 30-year-old striker Alhassane Koivogui, who joined opponents Etoile this week and so will miss the game.
"It is a big move for me at this stage of my career," the Guinean said recently.
"Etoile told me they liked my fighting spirit, but I will miss the ASEC fans, they have been great to me."
Tunisia's Etoile Sahel beat visitors Zamalek of Egypt 2-1 to finish top of Group B of the African Champions League on Saturday.
Etoile's victory means that they will play either reigning champions Enyimba of Nigeria or Morocco's Raja Casablanca in the semi-finals while Zamalek face their compatriots Ahly, who have already won Group A.
The first half was goalless with the two best chances falling to Etoile, as Hakim El Barqee's acrobatic double-kick went wide and Gerson Silva's powerful shot was saved by Zamalek goalkeeper Abdel Wahed El Sayed.
Zamalek's best effort came as Adel Fathy's powerful shot was dropped by Etoile's goalkeeper, who managed to gather the ball just as Junior was about to follow up.
Etoile took the lead six minutes into the second half through Nigerian striker Emeka Opara, who converted a cross from the side by Silva.
The lead was doubled six minutes later as Etoile were awarded a free-kick just outside the area and Marouane al-Bokri's superb shot flew past El Sayed.
Zamalek managed to get back into the game and were rewarded in the 64th minute with a consolation goal from Adel Fathy.
Etoile played the final four minutes of the game with 10 men as one of their players was sent but they held on for the victory.
Meanwhile in the other match in the group in the Ivory Coast capital Abidjan Asec Mimosas edged past Esperance of Tunisia 1-0.
A late goal by striker Abdramane Diaby handed Asec the narrowest of wins.
Diaby's strike was fit to win almost any game, a rocket of a shot from outside the area that the Esperance keeper got a hand to but couldn't keep out of the roof of the net.
Asec deserved their win, having dominated from start to finish.
Asec's victory, their first in the group stages, means they leapfrog over the Tunisian side into third place in the group, but still miss out on the semi-finals.
Final Group B standings
Etoile 10 pts
Zamalek 9
Asec 6
Esperance 4
Etoile's victory means that they will play either reigning champions Enyimba of Nigeria or Morocco's Raja Casablanca in the semi-finals while Zamalek face their compatriots Ahly, who have already won Group A.
The first half was goalless with the two best chances falling to Etoile, as Hakim El Barqee's acrobatic double-kick went wide and Gerson Silva's powerful shot was saved by Zamalek goalkeeper Abdel Wahed El Sayed.
Zamalek's best effort came as Adel Fathy's powerful shot was dropped by Etoile's goalkeeper, who managed to gather the ball just as Junior was about to follow up.
Etoile took the lead six minutes into the second half through Nigerian striker Emeka Opara, who converted a cross from the side by Silva.
The lead was doubled six minutes later as Etoile were awarded a free-kick just outside the area and Marouane al-Bokri's superb shot flew past El Sayed.
Zamalek managed to get back into the game and were rewarded in the 64th minute with a consolation goal from Adel Fathy.
Etoile played the final four minutes of the game with 10 men as one of their players was sent but they held on for the victory.
Meanwhile in the other match in the group in the Ivory Coast capital Abidjan Asec Mimosas edged past Esperance of Tunisia 1-0.
A late goal by striker Abdramane Diaby handed Asec the narrowest of wins.
Diaby's strike was fit to win almost any game, a rocket of a shot from outside the area that the Esperance keeper got a hand to but couldn't keep out of the roof of the net.
Asec deserved their win, having dominated from start to finish.
Asec's victory, their first in the group stages, means they leapfrog over the Tunisian side into third place in the group, but still miss out on the semi-finals.
Final Group B standings
Etoile 10 pts
Zamalek 9
Asec 6
Esperance 4
Reigning champions Enyimba of Nigeria have crashed out of the African Champions league after they lost 2-1 to Ahly in Egypt.
Instead Raja Casablanca of Morocco, who won 3-0 in South Africa against Ajax Cape Town, clinched the last semi-final spot ahead of Enyimba.
Two goals from Osama Hosni ended Enyimba's dream of winning the Champions League three times in a row.
Enyimba started well as Atanda Sakibu gave them the lead in the 27th minute, turning home from close range after Ahly goalkeeper Essam El Hadary had brilliantly saved his first effort.
Hosni struck back for Ahly ten minutes later, following up on a great effort by Ahmed Hassan. Enyimba then had a Joetex Frimpong effort ruled out. Replays however showed that the Ghanaian international was clearly onside.
The second-half proved to be a thrilling encounter as both sides had several good chances to score goals.
Ahly eventually found a winner as substitute Mohamed Abdel Wahad crossed for Hosni to head home in the 81st minute.
After the game Ahly's coach Hossam El Badry told BBC Sport: "Everyone thought we weren't taking the match seriously because we were lining up a secondary squad but we played a fair game and proved that we deserve to win this competition."
Meanwhile in South Africa, Raja Casablanca were simply too strong and experienced for a young Ajax side already out of contention and missing several key players who were either injured or being rested.
Raja took the lead as early as the 6th minute when Guinean Abdelkarim Fofana slotted home from close range after Marouane Zemama dragged the ball back from the goal line.
Two minutes from half-time, the lively Soufiane Alloudi doubled the lead with a neat chip from inside the six yard area to effectively seal the game for the visitors.
Ajax missed a good chance to reduce the deficit in the 55th minute when George Mofokeng failed to connect with a header from close range from a set piece.
Shortly after seeing his shot hit the upright, the lively Mouhsinne Iajour completed the scoring for Raja.
Iajour slotted the ball into an empty net after Ajax goalkeeper Moeneeb Josephs had ventured way outside his penalty area only to see his header fall straight to the feet of Fofana.
After the game, Ajax coach Gordon Igesund conceded his side were beaten by stronger opponents.
"Many of my players are very young and if they stay together for the next three years they will be a force to be reckoned with," he said.
The results mean that in the semi-finals Raja Casablanca will now play Group A winners Etoile Sahel of Tunisia while Ahly play Egyptian arch-rivals Zamalek.
Final Group A standings
Al Ahly 14 pts
Raja 8
Enyimba 7
Ajax 3
Instead Raja Casablanca of Morocco, who won 3-0 in South Africa against Ajax Cape Town, clinched the last semi-final spot ahead of Enyimba.
Two goals from Osama Hosni ended Enyimba's dream of winning the Champions League three times in a row.
Enyimba started well as Atanda Sakibu gave them the lead in the 27th minute, turning home from close range after Ahly goalkeeper Essam El Hadary had brilliantly saved his first effort.
Hosni struck back for Ahly ten minutes later, following up on a great effort by Ahmed Hassan. Enyimba then had a Joetex Frimpong effort ruled out. Replays however showed that the Ghanaian international was clearly onside.
The second-half proved to be a thrilling encounter as both sides had several good chances to score goals.
Ahly eventually found a winner as substitute Mohamed Abdel Wahad crossed for Hosni to head home in the 81st minute.
After the game Ahly's coach Hossam El Badry told BBC Sport: "Everyone thought we weren't taking the match seriously because we were lining up a secondary squad but we played a fair game and proved that we deserve to win this competition."
Meanwhile in South Africa, Raja Casablanca were simply too strong and experienced for a young Ajax side already out of contention and missing several key players who were either injured or being rested.
Raja took the lead as early as the 6th minute when Guinean Abdelkarim Fofana slotted home from close range after Marouane Zemama dragged the ball back from the goal line.
Two minutes from half-time, the lively Soufiane Alloudi doubled the lead with a neat chip from inside the six yard area to effectively seal the game for the visitors.
Ajax missed a good chance to reduce the deficit in the 55th minute when George Mofokeng failed to connect with a header from close range from a set piece.
Shortly after seeing his shot hit the upright, the lively Mouhsinne Iajour completed the scoring for Raja.
Iajour slotted the ball into an empty net after Ajax goalkeeper Moeneeb Josephs had ventured way outside his penalty area only to see his header fall straight to the feet of Fofana.
After the game, Ajax coach Gordon Igesund conceded his side were beaten by stronger opponents.
"Many of my players are very young and if they stay together for the next three years they will be a force to be reckoned with," he said.
The results mean that in the semi-finals Raja Casablanca will now play Group A winners Etoile Sahel of Tunisia while Ahly play Egyptian arch-rivals Zamalek.
Final Group A standings
Al Ahly 14 pts
Raja 8
Enyimba 7
Ajax 3