Gbenga Ogunbote, coach of Nigeria's Sunshine Stars, gestures during their African Champions League semi-final soccer match against Egypt's Ahly at the Military Stadium in Cairo (Photo: Reuters)
Sunshine Stars manager Gbenga Ogunbote has blamed his team’s defeat in the CAF Champions League semifinal on protests outside the team’s hotel before the match.
Ahly beat the Nigerian champions 1-0 in Cairo on Sunday to qualify for the final 4-3 on aggregate.
“I am waiting for the CAF (Confederation of Africa Football) to impose penalties on Ahly and I will escalate the issue,” Ogunbote said.
The match was delayed for half an hour because protesters demanding the start of the Egyptian Premier League season interrupted the Agagu Boys’ journey to the stadium.
All domestic football activities have been suspended in Egypt since the Port Said disaster left 72 fans dead in clashes between Ahly and Masry supporters in February.
The final of the CAF Champions League is scheduled to be held in Cairo on 4 November between Ahly and titleholders Esperance of Tunisia who qualified after eliminating TP Mazembe of DR Congo.
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