The Red Devils prevailed 4-3 on penalties after failing to break down their resolute opponents over two halves of extra time in the last-eight game.

Contractors were made to pay for two misses from Burkinabe defender Farouck Kabore and Omar Fayed as Ahly converted all of their spot kicks.

Ahly, who lost to Zamalek in last season's Egypt Cup final, will meet Smouha in the semi-final in January after the Alexandria-based club beat second-division side Suez 2-0.

Ahmed El-Sheemi missed a sitter for Arab Contractors as early as the second minute, blasting high over from six yards out following a defensive lapse.

But Ahly then assumed total control, pinning Arab Contractors into their own half and wasting a couple of goal-scoring chances.

Off-form striker Hossam Hassan, who made a rare start, fired over the bar with the goal at his mercy following a defence-splitting pass from Magdi Afsha while forward Shady Hussein side-footed a shot just wide from the edge of the area.

Ahly continued to mount an onslaught in the second half and the breakthrough finally came on 68 minutes when an angled shot from wing-back Karim Fouad squirmed between the legs of keeper Mahmoud Aboul-Saoud and into the net.

However, they eased off after taking the lead and Contractors took full advantage to level the score eight minutes later, Nigerian striker John Okoli drilling a low shot in off the post from inside the area after a pull-back from Omar Fathi.

Neither side threatened in a cagey extra-time but Ahly got the job done in the shootout after Kabore skied his effort high over and Fayed had his tame shot saved by keeper Mohamed El-Shennawi.

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