A first-half goal by Esperance striker Joseph N'Djeng condemned a lackluster Ahly side to a 1-0 defeat in Saturday’s CAF Champions League at 7 November Stadium in Rades, leaving the Egyptian champions with a tough task to reach the semis.

The Cameroonian capitalized on some slack defending to score the winner just before the quarter-hour mark before only 5,000 Esperance fans who were allowed to enter the stadium after Tunisian authorities opted to limit the number of spectators due to security reasons.

Ahly, who failed to threaten Esperance in the first half, squandered some easy opportunities in the second half to deal a blow to their chances of booking a last-four berth, having been held to a 3-3 home draw by Morocco’s Wydad Casablanca in their group stage opener.

Esperance could have doubled their advantage with 19 minutes remaining but playmaker Oussama Darragi failed to convert a penalty which was controversially given to the hosts by the referee.

Ahly, who were recently crowned Egyptian Premier League champions, could not avenge their last season’s semi-final exit at the hands of Esperance.  

Wydad, who crushed Mouloudia Alger 4-0 earlier in the day, are on top of Group B with four points, ahead of second-placed Esperance on goal difference. Ahly, the record winners of Africa’s premier club competition with six titles under their belt, and Mouloudia have one point each.

Cautious approach   

Ahly’s cautious approach saw coach Manuel Jose field three central midfielders in Mohamed Shawky, Hossam Ashour and Shehab Ahmed. Sweeper Sherif Abdel-Fadil, whose blunders cost Ahly dearly in the draw with Wydad, was dropped, making way for Hossam Ghaly.

The visitors’ defensive-minded line-up allowed Esperance to mount early pressure and lay siege to Ahly’s area.

Esperance’s efforts paid off after 14 minutes when Ahly’s poor set-piece defending haunted them as Darragi rose at the near post to flick a corner into the path of N'Djeng, who headed home from close range after being helped by a tame challenge from his marker Ahmed El-Sayed.

Ahly could not muster a single shot on goal in the first half, prompting Jose to take off Shehab and introduce deep-lying forward Mohamed Nagy ‘Gedo’ one minute before the break.

Gedo efforts

The change improved Ahly’s display as they managed to create three clear-cut chances which were thwarted by Esperance keeper Moez Ben Chrifia.

Gedo twice broke clear of defense but his two left-foot shots from a tight angle were blocked by Ben Chrifia in the 60^th and 67^th minutes.

Esperance had a chance to almost kill off Ahly’s hopes when they were awarded a penalty in the 71^st minute after Ghaly allegedly tripped the onrushing Darragi following a breakaway. Television replays were inconclusive as to whether there was real contact between both players.

Darragi stepped up but his spot kick struck the outside of the post after keeper Ahmed Adel dived the wrong way.

Ahly, encouraged by the wasted penalty, pushed forward to grab the equalizer but were guilty of another glaring miss by Gedo, who was the team’s joint top scorer in their league’s triumphant campaign with eight goals.

Esperance defenders failed to clear a cross and the ball looped into the path of Gedo with only Ben Chrifia to beat but his weak effort was easily collected by the guardian.

Mohamed Shawky had a close-range shot blocked by Esperance’s backline in the dying minutes as the one-time African champions held on to claim all three points.