Smouha coach Helmy Tolan has expressed determination to continue the side's success in the CAF Champions League after they made it to the quarterfinals over DR Congo's AC Leopards.

"Yes, it's such an achievement. We are seeking to reach as far as possible in the competition. We are highly supported by the club's board," Tolan told Reuters Sunday.

After they lost away 0-1, Smouha won 2-0 at home Saturday in the last 16 to qualify for the first time to the two-group stage.

"I didn't expect we could score in stoppage time because the opponent's tactics were largely defensive and all my last minute substitutes were for the penalty shootouts," Tolan added.

Alexandria-based club Smouha has surprisingly become the only Egyptian team so far to reach the CAF Champions League quarterfinals after Ahly lost by penalty shootout Saturday to Moghreb Tetouan of Morocco. Ahly rivals Zamalek play FUS Rabat Sunday.

"We have solid determination to deliver a performance representative of Egyptian football and to prove its worth after some doubted our abilities. We are now focusing domestically," Tolan said.

The runner-ups of the last Egyptian Premier League have only collected 29 points from 28 games in the current edition, leaving them 16th on the league table.

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