Ahly, playing without a host of regular starters, defeated lowly Nasr 2-1 to boost their morale ahead of Saturday's African Confederation Cup final.

They fell behind to a goal from Nasr's Mohamed Zizo on the stroke of half time, but veteran striker Emad Meteb, who came on as a second-half substitute, converted a penalty with five minutes remaining to level the score.

A diving header by youngster Ramadan Sobhi secured a precious comeback win for the Cairo giants.

"I expected more from the young players who always demanded to have a chance to play in the official games," Ahly's Spanish coach, Juan Carlos Garrido, told the post game press conference.

"I hoped players could make use of their chance of playing against Nasr.

"I rested more experienced players to be ready for the CAF Confederations Cup final," he added.

Ahly will start their closed camp on Monday within preparations for the showdown against Ivory Coast's Sewe Sport in the first leg of the Confederation Cup next Saturday.

"I ask players to forget the Nasr game and concentrate on the final in Ivory Coast to ease our mission in the second leg in Cairo," the Ahly tactician concluded.

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