CAIRO: Ahly coach Hossam Al-Badri prefers to face CAF Champions League holders TP Mazembe in the semis, rather than clashing with Tunisia’s Esperance.
Four teams have booked their place in the last four, with Ahly securing second place in Group B behind assured leaders JS Kabylie.
But it is still tight in the other group as Mazembe and Esperance are both tied at 10 points before the final round.
"I’ve been keeping an eye on Esperance recently and I know they are a very tough opposition," said Al-Badri.
"Actually, I feel we perform better against non-Arab teams, so I prefer to face Mazembe."
Ahly, who edged Nigeria’s Heartland 1-0 on Sunday, will play their final group game against bitter league rivals Ismaili next week.
The Reds’ last meeting with Esperance came in 2007, when they eventually lost the title to another Tunisian club Etoile Sahel.
