Champions League: Ahly, Cotonsport for Final

  1. Posted on Monday 20 October 2008 - 08:35
    Dolphyne
    Image of Dolphyne
    Joseph Appiah-Dolphyne, AfricaNews editor in Accra, Ghana Photo: BBC
    Egyptian side Al Ahly will meet Cotonsport of Cameroon in the final of the 2008 African Champions League after beating Enyimba 1-0 in Cairo on Saturday. The five-time champions beat the Nigerian side by the same aggregate score after Flavio headed home compatriot Gilberto's corner after 26 minutes.
    alhly vrs Enyimba
    The lead was no less than Al Ahly deserved after opening the scoring after 14 minutes only to see Mohamed Barakat's goal wrongly disallowed for offside. Bidding to reach their first final since 2004, two-time champions Enyimba rarely troubled the Egyptian defence.

    'The People's Elephant' arrived in town with all eyes on striker Stephen Worgu, the leading Champions League scorer with 13 goals this season.

    He is reportedly being chased by Al Ahly yet only threatened their backline once, when wriggling past two defenders before driving an angled 15-yard shot wide after 70 minutes, according to the BBC.

    Enyimba struggled to create chances, playing well until the final third where their quality deserted them, and Al Ahly keeper Amir Abdelhamid did not have a shot to save until the 55th minute.

    On the other hand, Al Ahly largely dominated, creating a multitude of chances which would have made for a less tense evening.

    Mohamed Aboutreika was the first to threaten after 11 minutes, his acrobatic volley from near the penalty spot bravely headed clear by Enyimba defender Uga Okpara. Fifteen minutes later, Flavio scored the only goal of the two-legged semi-final as he lost his marker before glancing home Gilberto?s corner from 6 yards.

    Al Ahly's lead should have been doubled after 34 minutes, but Ahmed Sayed somehow failed to connect from two yards out when a cross was knocked across the face of the Enyimba goal.

    Eighteen minutes from time, Aboutreika wasted another chance to extend Al Ahly's lead, volleying another fine cross from Gilberto horribly over from close range.
    Al Ahly, who will be in the final of Africa's premier club tournament for the eighth tournament, becomes only the third side to reach four straight finals.

    DR Congo's TP Englebert Mazembe was the first to do so, when winning two finals between 1967 and 1970, while Guinea's Hafia Conakry also won two of four finals, between 1975-1978.

    Al Ahly are bidding to win a record sixth title, currently boasting five trophies - the same as bitter Cairo rivals Zamalek.

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