Ahly arrived in Cairo on Monday after their 1-1 draw with Cameroon's Coton Sport in the first leg of the CAF Champions League semifinal.

Manager Mohamed Yousif decided to rest his players for 48 hours after their return and will start preparations for the second leg on Wednesday.

Ahly technical staff are considering asking for a delay of the second leg scheduled for 20 October, after the first leg was called off due to heavy rain and replayed a day later.

The replay might have come in handy for title holders Ahly, who made light of their apparent exhaustion to hold the Cameroonians to a 1-1 draw in Garoua on Sunday.

The match looked as though it was heading for a goalless draw on Saturday before it was called off after the pitch was deemed unplayable due to torrential rain by Zambian referee Jan Sikazwe.

Ahly will be favourites to reach their second consecutive final when they host Coton Sport in the second leg on 20 October, five days after Egypt’s crucial clash away to Ghana in the first leg of the World Cup qualifying playoff.

Ahly may face Tunisia's Esperance in final

Ahly winger Ahmed Shedid Qinawi said the second leg against Coton Sport would not be easy despite the 1-1 draw in Cameroon.

"The 1-1 draw is a good result but it doesn't secure qualification," Shedid was quoted as saying on the club's official website.

"The return leg won't be easy as Coton Sport still have hopes of qualifying but the experience of Ahly players will help them to win," he added.

"I respect Coton Sport team but I expect to face Tunisian Esperance in the final," the Ahly winger concluded.

Esperance of Tunisia gained a slight first-leg advantage after holding Orlando Pirates to a 0-0 draw in Johannesburg in the African Champions League semifinal on Saturday.

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