Ismaily booked their first African Champions League spot in eight years after holding rivals Masry to a 1-1 draw in the Egyptian Premier League on Friday.

Masry had no option but to beat Ismaily to keep alive their hopes of finishing as runners-up and leapfrogging Ismaily but they could not hold onto their lead at Alexandria's Borg El-Arab Stadium.

Winger Ahmed Shoukri put Masry ahead on the stroke of halftime after converting a penalty but Ismaily's veteran midfielder Hosni Abd-Rabou leveled the score three minutes after the restart, heading home on the rebound after his initial spot-kick was blocked by the keeper.

Masry piled on pressure in the second half and were unlucky not to restore their lead on several occasions, wasting some clear-cut chances including a header from forward Ahmed Gomaa which was denied by the bar.

The draw ensured Ismaily would finish second behind champions Ahly with 68 points, five ahead of third-placed Masry who would not be able to overtake them even if they beat Ahly in their final league match later this month.

Masry will feature in the African Confederation Cup, the continent's secondary club competition.

Ismaily last took part in the Champions League in 2010, when they finished third in their group behind Algeria's JS Kabylie and Egyptian rivals Ahly.

The Dervishes won the last of their three Egyptian league titles in 2002.

(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)