Ahly is trying to get permission from security authorities to allow fans to attend next Sunday's encounter with Coton Sport from Cameroon in the return leg of the Confederation Cup semi-final.

"Coton Sport will be very dangerous here in Cairo as they have nothing to lose. We need home support to reach the final for the first time in Egyptian football," football director Alaa Sadek was quoted as saying on Ahram Sport on Monday.

A crowd-ban has been imposed on football games in Egypt because of the turmoil in the country and the repeated clashes between fans and security forces.

However since the crowd-ban was first put into effect in 2012, the interior minister has on occasion allowed a limited attendance for clubs during their continental engagements.

"We have already made a formal request and we hope for a positive answer soon," he added.

The Cairo giants got the backing of sports minister Khaled Abdel-Aziz who told a radio program on Monday that he is in talks with the interior minister to allow 5,000 supporters to attend this decider.

Ahly have already put a leg in the final after claiming a 1-0 away win. If they finish the job in Cairo the eight-time African champions will be the first Egyptian team to reach the final of the Confederation Cup, a competition launched in 2004.

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