CAIRO: Hundreds of Ahly fans warmly received their team at Cairo International Airport after losing to Esperance in the semi-finals of the African Champions League.
Some 2000 fans were present, with tens of them carrying manager Hossam Al-Badri on their shoulders while others raised banners reading: ‘We don’t want to win fixed matches.’
Other banners criticized the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
Ahly bowed out of the tournament on the away goal rule, following a 1-0 defeat in Tunisia after the Egyptian champions won 2-1 in Cairo.
Esperance’s winner was clearly a handball from Nigerian striker Michael Eneramo and Ahly supporters believe their team was defeated in an unsporting atmosphere.
Striker Mohamed Fadl and winger Ahmed Shoukri were so touched that they cried. Fadl scored Ahly’s opener in Cairo with a handball as well.
