Ahly would just need luck to overcome Esperance in the second leg of the African Champions League final on 17 November, coach Hossam El-Badry said on Friday.

The Red Devils were held to a disappointing 1-1 draw at home to Esperance in the first leg, a result which makes the Tunisian defending champions favourites to retain their title.

“There is no pessimism in football. The performance we produced in Alexandria makes me confident because we played better, we just couldn’t win because of luck,” El-Badry told the club’s official website.

“I hope luck would be on our side in the second leg, because that was the only missing aspect of our game in the first leg.”

El-Badry was in charge of Ahly when they were knocked out of the Champions League semis at the hands of Esperance in 2010 via a controversial second-leg goal from Nigerian striker Michael Eneramo.

Eesperance also eliminated Ahly from the group stage last year when the Cairo giants were managed by highly-successful Portuguese manager Manuel Jose.

Ahly are eyeing a record-extending seventh continental title while Esperance are looking to lift the trophy for the second time in a row and third overall.

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