Kickoff (Cape Town)
14 November 2008
Egyptian giants Al-Ahly will seek to defy the home invincibility of Cameroonian side, Coton Sport when the two sides come face-to-face in the second leg of the Caf-MTN Champions League final on Sunday.
Five-time African champions, Ahly have a two-goal advantage and will clinch an unprecedented sixth title by avoiding defeat as they trek the Northern Cameroonian town of Garoua as guests of Coton Sport.
In what could be described as their biggest test en route to the ultimate, the Cairo-giants will be hoping to survive at the Roumde-Adja Omnisport Stadium, where many have failed.
The 35 000-capacity stadium built in 1978 has become a waterloo for visiting clubs this term.
Coton Sport, seeking to become the first club from the Central African country to win the top most honour in African football in 27-years, has yet to lose at home and have scored 18 times and have a clean sheet at home.
The Cameroonian champions need at least three answered goals to clinch their first-ever African title, and the fact that Ahly have lost once away from home this season, a 1-2 loss to South Africa's Platinum Stars in the 1/16th stage suggests they are in for a match of their lives.
The hosts will be without captain Amadou Ngomna through suspension but coach Alain Ouombleon is optimistic of leading his charges to one of the biggest upsets in African football history by beating Ahly.
"We have learnt our mistakes from the first leg, and we are ready to surprise all. We didn't pay much attention to set-pieces and that was our undoing in Cairo."
Coton Sport has the support of the almost 18 million populace to emulate the feats of Oryx Douala (1964), Canon Yaoundé (1971, 1978 and 1980) and Union Douala (1979).
The likes of Daoda Kamilou, Baba Ousmaila and Kingue Mpondo will be expected to lead the Garoua-based club to that golden feat.
For Ahly, their quest for a record sixth title is been backed by history coupled with the efforts of Mohamed Aboutreika, Mohamed Barakat, Flavio Amado, Hassan Ahmed among others.
Ahly have never lost the second leg after playing at home first, and the "Red Devils" are bent repeating that feat.
The Egyptians however reckon a tough encounter and will be counting on their rich experience to brush past the Cameroonian debutants.
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