Ahly survive Cotonsport storm, win record sixth African title

Al-Ahly of Egypt won a record sixth African Champions League title on Sunday after drawing 2-2 with Cotonsport Garoua of Cameroon in the second leg of the final.

Ahly, title favourites from the start of the competition last February, triumphed 4-2 on aggregate after winning the first leg 2-0 in Cairo two weeks ago.

Success for the Cairo ‘Red Devils’ brought a one-million-dollar cheque plus a place beside Manchester United in the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan next month.

Ahmed Hassan gave Ahly a 38th-minute lead, Lassina Karim levelled in first half stoppage time, Ousmaila Baba edged Cotonsport in front on 63 minutes and captain Shady Mohamed restored equality from a last-minute penalty.

Cotonsport dominated a high-tempo match in baking heat before a capacity 35,000 crowd at the Roumde-Adja Stadium in the northern town only to waste many chances with Baba the biggest culprit.

It was the third time in four years star-laced Ahly have conquered Africa and they also reached the 2007 final only to suffer a shock home defeat by Etoile Sahel of Tunisia.

After weathering the predictable early Cotonsport onslaught, veteran midfielder Hassan snatched a precious away goal by flicking a Mohamed Aboutraika cross past goalkeeper Kassaly Daouda.

Niger-born Daouda Kamilou was a constant threat to Ahly and set up the equaliser by pulling the ball back to Karim, who gave goalkeeper Amir Abdulhamid no chance with a hard, low shot into the corner.

Cotonsport, appearing in their first Champions League final, started the second half like men possessed and several chances were spurned before Baba atoned for his misses by heading home.

Just one minute later the Cameroonian squandered a glorious chance to score again, shooting timidly at Abdulhamid after experiencing the rare feat of being unmarked in an Ahly penalty area.

Ahly endured several more anxious moments before the sting evaporated from Cotonsport in the closing stages and a foul by Andre Ndame presented Mohamned with the chance to score as Daouda dived the wrong way.

The result ended a seven-match home winning run by Cotonsport in the Champions League this year and it was the first time they have conceded two goals in Garoua since making their competition debut 10 years ago.