ASEC Mimosas of the Ivory Coast handed Al Ahly their second loss in Group A of the CAF Champions League, leaving the Egyptian giants’ hopes of qualifying for the semifinals of the continental competition hanging by a thread.
The Mimosas defeated Ahly 2-1 at the Borg El Arab Stadium in Alexandria on Tuesday night, a win which sees them register their first points of the group phase after losing 1-0 at home to Morocco’s Wydad Casablanca 10 days ago.
The Red Devils remain on zero points following their loss away to ZESCO United, and could find themselves as much as six points off the lead team if tomorrow’s match between the Zambians and Wydad in Rabat produces a winner.
The match in Alexandria saw the visitors claimed a surprise lead just before the half hour mark, with Yannick Krahire Zakri striking home the opening goal on 29 minutes.
ASEC took the lead into half time, but just eight minutes after the restart they were pegged back to 1-1 when Al Ahly’s Ahmed Hegazy found the back of the net.
The Egyptian side would have been hoping to go on and claim the victory in what remained of the game, but instead it was the Ivorians who found the next goal, with Armand Niamke netting in the 80th minute to make it 2-1 to the away team.
ASEC will next be in Champions League action when they face ZESCO United away next month, while Al Ahly will welcome fellow North Africans Wydad.
