Africa’s second-tier club competition can still dream of first-rate Al Ahly-Zamalek final

The Cairo giants Al Ahly and Zamalek, both topping their CAF Confederation Cup groups with one matchday remaining, remain on course to avoid each other in the semi-finals and set up a possible dream final.

Zamalek's Basem Morsi, centre, tries to break through Al Ahly players Saad Samir, left, and Moamen Zakaria during an Egyptian Premier League match last month. Amr Abdallah Dalsh / Reuters / July 21, 2Show more

A dream CAF Confederation Cup final between arch Egyptian rivals Al Ahly and Zamalek remains on the cards ahead of the final group games during September.

Ahly replaced fellow-qualifiers Etoile Sahel of Tunisia as Group A leaders on goal difference and Zamalek crept above Orlando Pirates of South Africa on goals scored in Group B after both sealed last-four places.

If the Cairo clubs stay on top, or if both finish runners-up after the final matchday, they will dodge each other in the semi-finals.

Etoile, winners of the second-tier African Football Confederation (CAF) club competition in 2006, conceded a stoppage-time goal at the weekend to draw 1-1 with Stade Malien of Mali in Bamako.

Guinean Alkhaly Bangoura put the Tunisian outfit ahead just before the hour and Moussa Coulibaly levelled six minutes into additional time.

Stade, the 2009 Confederation Cup winners, were let down by poor home mini-league form at Stade Modibo Keita this year, securing just two points from a possible nine.

Ahly overtook Etoile thanks to a 1-0 win at bottom-of-the-table Esperance of Tunisia with Ghana-born recent signing John Antwi scoring the fifth-minute winner at Stade El Menzah in Tunis.

A late Ahmed Hamoudi brace earned Zamalek a 3-1 win at record three-time Confederation Cup title-holders CS Sfaxien of Tunisia.

Kahraba, real name Mahmoud Abdel Moneim, gave the Egyptians a second-half lead and he had a penalty saved by Rami Jeridi after Ali Maaloul equalised from another spot-kick.

But Sfaxien suffered a fourth loss in five outings as Hamoudi came off the bench to restore the lead nine minutes from time, then converted a stoppage-time penalty.

Pirates were equally impressive winners with goals from Mpho Makola and captain Oupa Manyisa bringing a 2-0 victory over AC Leopards of Republic of Congo in Soweto.

Confederation Cup winners bank $660,000 (Dh2.4m) and are guaranteed at least another $50,000 from a CAF Super Cup match against the African Champions League winners.

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