Libyans accused of using laser beam against goalkeeper

Supporters of Libyan club Al-Ittihad have been accused of using a laser beam to unsettle the goalkeeper of Egyptian visitors Al-Ahly during a shock 2-0 African Champions League victory.

Headed goals by defender Younes al-Chibani and striker Ahmed Zuway handed the Tripoli club a 2-0 first-leg advantage at the weekend in a final round qualifier for the money-spinning group phase.

But Ahly were furious after accusing some spectators in the 60,000 crowd of aiming a laser beam at Ahmed Adel, and others of stoning veteran defender Wael Gomaa and forcing him to have a head wound stitched.

“Home fans tried to unsettle Adel and affect his concentration by targeting him with a laser beam,” Ahly football director and former star Hady Khashaba told the club website.

Egyptian reports said Ittihad board member Mohamed al-Agha apologised for the Gomaa incident which occurred as the national team star was returning to the dressing-room after the match.

But no mention was made of the laser beam and Khashaba said they asked the match commissioner to include this in a report to the African Football Confederation (CAF).

Ittihad used aerial power to upset Ahly as both goals came from corners with Adel slow to react for the first on 13 minutes and poorly positioned for the second 18 minutes from full-time.

The clubs clash again at the 70,000-capacity Cairo Stadium in two weeks with six-time champions Ahly needing at least a two-goal victory to avoid being eliminated in the final qualifying round for the second successive year.

Title holders TP Mazembe from the Democratic Republic of Congo virtually sealed a last-eight place by defeating Djoliba of Mali 1-0 in Bamako courtesy of an early second-half penalty converted by captain Mputu Mabi.

Ismailia of Egypt are another former champion seemingly set to progress after Mohamed Homos struck on the stroke of half-time to deliver a 1-0 win against Al-Hilal of Sudan in Omdurman.

Dynamos of Zimbabwe came from behind to overwhelm surprise packets Gaborone United of Botswana 4-1 in Harare and Esperance of Tunisia are also well placed having sunk Al-Merreikh of Sudan 3-0 in Tunis via an early goal blitz.

Algerian clubs used home advantage to build leads with JS Kabylie defeating Petro Atletico of Angola 2-0 in Tizi-Ouzou while Entente Setif had to settle for a 1-0 win over Zanaco of Zambia after failing to convert a penalty.

The poor Champions League record of South African clubs continued with SuperSport United held 1-1 in Johannesburg by Heartland of Nigeria, who were runners-up last year.