Ahly make another early CAF League exit

Johannesburg (AFP) - Record eight-time CAF Champions League title-holders Al Ahly this weekend failed to reach the group stage for the second successive season.

The Egyptians edged Moroccans Moghreb Tetouan 1-0 in an empty Cairo stadium to level the last-16 tie at 1-1 on aggregate, but lost 4-3 on penalties.

Moghreb converted four consecutive kicks while Ahly failed twice with Mahmoud 'Trezeguet' Hassan blazing wide and Hossam Ghaly having his shot saved.

Tetouan, first-leg victors through a solitary, stoppage-time goal, advance to the six-round group stage while Ahly are demoted to the CAF Confederation Cup play-offs.

Ahly won the second-tier African club competition last year after losing home and away to Libyans Al Ahly Benghazi in the final Champions League qualifying round.

The Cairo Red Devils controlled the opening half in a Petrosport Stadium kept empty because of security concerns.

They broke the second-leg deadlock three minutes before half-time when Abdullah Al Saied beat goalkeeper Mohamed El Yousfi with a low shot off a Bassem Ali cross.

Ahly were also the superior side during the second half although leading 2015 Champions League scorer Mouhsine Iajour occasionally threatened to equalise.

No crowd support, a shortage of transfer funds, and the retirement of stars like Mohamed Abou Trika and Mohamed Barakat have seen Ahly diminish as a Champions League force.

While the Cairo club were exiting the elite competition, debutants Smouha defeated Congolese AC Leopards 2-0 in Alexandria to ensure an Egyptian presence in the Tuesday group draw.

It was the third consecutive round in which the club from the Mediterranean city have overcome a 1-0 first-leg deficit.

Ahmed Shokry curled a free-kick into the net midway through the opening half in another spectator-less game.

And with a penalty shootout looming, Salah Amin headed a stoppage-time goal to stun 2012 CAF Confederation Cup winners Leopards.

Defending champions Algerians Entente Setif are also through to the group stage after defeating Moroccan visitors Raja Casablanca 4-1 in a penalty shootout Friday.

Another five second legs are scheduled for late Sunday.