Ahly cement status as Africa's best

With their third continental title in six years, Egyptian side Ahly's status as Africa's top club side cannot be disputed.

The Cairo giants reinforced their aura of invincibility on Saturday when they plucked the Champions League crown away from Tunisian hosts CS Sfaxien with a last-gasp goal, securing back-to-back titles -- only the third team in 42 years to do so.

Mohamed Aboutrika scored a stunning volley two minutes into stoppage time to hand Ahly a 1-0 victory in the away leg for a 2-1 aggregate triumph.

Their mission now will be to become the first to win it three years in a row and the reputation they have built up, few would bet against them.

Since July 2004, when Mohamed Fahim scored in stoppage time to hand Arab Contractors a 2-1 win in the Egyptian Cup final, Ahly have not lost a match in their own country.

They took the 2004/2005 premier league title with 24 wins out of 26 games, the other two matches ending in draws and their haul of 74 points set a new Egyptian record.

Last season they fell just short of matching that achievement but again romped home to the championship, this time amassing 72 points with 23 wins and three draws in another unbeaten season.

The Cairo side now turn their sights to the World Club Cup in Japan again, determined to make up for their disappointing showing of last year.

They meet Auckland City of New Zealand in their opening round match and if they progress to the semi-finals will play Copa Libertadores champions Internacional of Porto Alegre

Sfaxien fans were hoping for a first-ever Champions League title

CS Sfaxien coach Mrad Mahjoub lambasted the officials for Saturday's heart-breaking defeat to Egypt's Ahly in the Champions League final.

The Cairo side scored a last-minute winner to win 1-0 in Tunis and so triumph 2-1 on aggregate, but the champions had some lucky breaks.

In the 48th minute, Tarek Ziadi put the ball in the back of the net for the Tunisians but the goal was incorrectly ruled out for offside.

"I have a very sad feeling," Mahjoub told BBC Sport.

"The linesman did what he wanted to do and we don't understand the decision."

"In addition, Joetex Frimpong was never offside."

Ghana striker Frimpong was faced with a one-on-one opportunity with the Ahly goalkeeper just after the hour-mark but he was, once again, incorrectly ruled offside before he had a chance to strike.

The decisions proved costly because Ahly forward Mohamed Aboutreika scored deep into stoppage time to clinch the title, which had been going to Sfaxien just seconds earlier on the away goals rule.

"This defeat was terrible," Nigerian forward Ishola Shaibu, who was unused in the final, told BBC Sport.

"Our hands were almost on the trophy but God said that this wasn't supposed to be our season.

"Ahly played very well. In fact, I've never seen an African team play like this - they played like a European team."

Meanwhile, Ivorian forward Blaise Kouassi, who came on as a late substitute, revealed that the defeat had pained him unexpectedly.

"I have not cried since the death of my father when I was a small boy," the 32-year-old told BBC Sport.

"But I had tears streaming down my face after this match. One day, I will win the Champions League."

The mood in the Sfaxien dressing room was like a funeral after the final, as the players reflected on how close they had come to a first-ever Champions League title.

Jose revels in Ahly victory
By Inas Mazhar
BBC Sport, Tunis

Ahly coach Manuel Jose has called the Champions League victory over Tunisia's CS Sfaxien the most important moment in the Egyptian club's history.

The Cairo giants beat the first-time finalists 1-0 in Tunis on Saturday to lift the title 2-1 on aggregate.

Ahly drew level with bitter city rivals Zamalek by so doing, equalling their record tally of five Champions League triumphs.

Jose's side also became only the third side in history to successfully defend their title, following DR Congo's TP Mazembe (1967 and 1968) and Nigeria's Enyimba (2003 and 2004).

"I think it's the most important moment in the club's history and the most important title for me too," Jose told BBC Sport.

"It's very special because it's the tenth title that I've won with the club.

"Since we started the season in June, we have had many problems.

"We have seven operations on very important players as well as the death of Mohamed Abdelwahab (in August), which was a big drama for all of us.

"Just being in the final was fantastic and we won this game because of the quality of our game in the second half.

"We were nervous in the first half and during half-time I tried to calm the players down.

"After the break, both our spirit and good football returned and the fantastic Mohamed Aboutreika scored a fantastic goal for us."

Aboutreika's strike was exquisitely timed, both in its execution and the stage of the match for he struck deep into added time at the end of the match.


Being level with Zamalek is not the important thing. The most important is winning the cup and qualifying for Japan

The fine left-footed volley from the edge of the area not only turned the match on its head, but also made the Egyptian international joint top scorer in the competition with 8 goals (along with Asec's Didier Ya Konan).

Until Aboutreika struck, CS Sfaxien had been seconds away from a maiden title but Ahly's victory means the Egyptians will now represent Africa at December's World Club Cup in Japan.

Ahly underperformed last year, knocked out by Saudi Arabia's Al Ittihad, and Jose has been critical of the Egyptian media for suggesting the club could win last year's crown.

"I hope that the players are free and not under the big pressure they suffered last year," he explained.

"The press can do what they want but they should not put in the minds of the people that we are going to Japan to be world club champions.

"I don't know if we are going to beat (New Zealand's) Auckland City or not, but we are going to play to enjoy.

"The pleasure is the prestige for the club, the technical staff and the players, and after that it's our duty to try to win the match - nothing more."

Ahly, who have now won Champions League title in 1982, 1987, 2001, 2005 and 2006, kick off their World Club Cup campaign in Toyota on 10 December.