Ahly and Kotoko in stalemate

Reigning African champions Ahly claimed a point away from home with a goalless draw against Ghana's Asante Kotoko in the Champions League.

The shared points in the Group A match in Obuasi on Sunday kept both sides in contention for semi-final places at the halfway stage of the group phase.

Poor finishing and pass selection cost Kotoko as they dominated against an Egyptian side who looked to have much of their energy sapped out of them by the humid conditions.

The Ghanaians found Ahly's Egyptian international goalkeeper Essam Al Hadari in fine form with some key saves.

Both sides had an opportunity to snatch a win in stoppage time, first the Egyptians when Ahly's Angolan World Cup striker Flavio shot across the face of goal from a tight angle with the opposing goalkeeper beaten.

Kotoko then caught Ahly with a quick counter-attack in which substitute George Yamoah received the ball in an unmarked position at the back post but contrived to hit the ball into the side netting.

It was the second successive goalless draw in the Champions League at the weekend after South Africa's Orlando Pirates were held by Ghana's Hearts of Oak in a Group B match in Johannesburg on Saturday.