Ahly coach El Badry quits after shock CAF defeat
Al Ahly of Egypt coach Hossam el Badry quit Tuesday after his team suffered a shock 2-0 defeat away to Kampala Capital City Authority of Uganda in the CAF Champions League group phase.
Al Ahly head coach Hossam El Badry EPA/MOHAMED HOSSAM
A statement by the club that has won the competition a record eight times said El Badry had resigned and his post would be filled by another Ahly coach, Ahmad Ayoub.
“The football committee, chaired by (club president) Mahmoud al Khatib has accepted Hossam el Badry’s apology for not pursuing his mission and has assigned Ahmad Ayoub to lead the team.
“The club will hold a meeting tomorrow (Wednesday) to discuss the team’s future plans.”
Former Ahly defender El Badry was in his third spell as coach of the ‘Red Devils’ and led them to the 2012 Champions League title.
Ibrahim Saddam put the east African side ahead after 74 minutes in Namboole near Kampala.
Timothy Awany clinched a famous victory for the Ugandan outfit in the second Group A matchday when he converted a penalty one minute from time.
Ahly have won a record 19 CAF titles while City Authority reached the group phase of the elite African club competition for the first time this season.
Defeat leaves Ahly with just one point after two rounds having been held 0-0 at home by Esperance of Tunisia.
Kampala began with a 1-0 loss at fellow group newcomers Township Rollers of Botswana, making the Ahly clash a must-win affair for them to have a realistic chance of progress.
Group winners and runners-up advance to the quarter-finals of a competition offering a $2.5 million (2.1 mn euros) first prize and a place in the 2018 FIFA Club World Cup.
In the other Group A match, brilliant goalkeeping by Mwampole Masule could not prevent Esperance defeating Rollers 4-1 in Rades near Tunis.
Rollers fell behind for the second time 35 seconds into the second half when Anice Badri scored and he struck again in stoppage time after Bilel Mejri added a third goal.
Victory lifted Esperance to the top of the standings with four points, Kampala and Rollers have three each and 2017 runners-up Ahly one.
Away victories are rare in the group phase, but TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Mouloudia Alger of Algeria bucked the trend in Group B.
Ben Malango claimed his sixth CAF goal this season and Aboubacar Sissoko his first as five-time champions Mazembe triumphed 2-0 over Difaa el Jadida of Morocco.
Mouloudia left it late to snatch a 1-0 win against fellow Algerian club Entente Setif with Amir Karaoui scoring on 89 minutes.
Defending champions Wydad Casablanca of Morocco netted twice within six minutes of the kick-off to set up a 3-0 home win over Port of Togo.
Mohamed Ounajem and Naim Aarab were the early scorers and any hopes of a Port comeback were dashed on 57 minutes when Mohamed Nahiri increased the lead.
Wydad top Group C with four points, Horoya of Guinea have three, Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa one and Port are pointless.
In Group D, Felix Badenhorst scored on the hour to give Mbabane Swallows of Swaziland a 1-0 home win over Primeiro Agosto of Angola in Manzini.
Swallows have four points, former champions Etoile Sahel of Tunisia three and Zesco United of Zambia and Primeiro one each.
Etoile host Zesco in Mediterranean resort Sousse Wednesday and a win for either club would bring them level with Swallows.
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