After losing 1-0 to Ahly in the final matchday of the CAF Confederation Cup group stage Saturday, Stade Malien coach Djabour de Kamel has announced that the Cairo giants are favourites to win the title this season.

Thanks to striker Amr Gamal's goal, Ahly finished on top of Group A in the African Confederation Cup with an easy 1-0 home win over Stade Malien on Saturday.

The already-qualified Red Devils, who are bidding for a second consecutive Confederation Cup title, finished with 13 points from six games, on level with Tunisia's Etoile Sahel who came from behind to beat fellow countrymen Esperance 2-1.

Ahly qualified as the group winners due to a better goal difference of plus five to Etoile's plus three. Stade Malien finished third with five points, two ahead of bottom side Esperance.

"Ahly is the favourite to win the CAF Confederation Cup title," Djabour was quoted as saying on Ahly's official website after the game.

"We were a challenger for Ahly during the game, but a few mistakes from the players caused the defeat," the Stade Malien coach added.

Ahly will learn their semi-final opponents when Group B concludes on Sunday, with Egypt's Zamalek, Ahly's Cairo foes, and South Africa's Orlando Pirates facing off to determine who will finish on top after both had ensured their progress to the last four with one match to spare.

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