| |  Egypt Home Page | | | | Al Ahli finish top of African Champions League group | Holders Al Ahli weathered a second half storm to grab two late goals to beat ASEC Abidjan of Ivory Coast in their African Champions League Group B match in Cairo on Sunday.
The 2-0 result means that the Egyptians finished top of the standings after Sudan's Al Hilal were held to a 1-1 draw at Esperance of Tunisia. Al Hilal also qualify for the last four after finishing second.
Al Ahli battled to contain their west African visitors, who had to win to earn a semifinal berth at the expense of their Egyptian hosts.
ASEC's Ghanaian import Idrissu Abdul Nafiu had several chances in the first part of the second half but Al Ahli finally broke the deadlock in the 76th minute.
A cross from winger Gilberto was steered past his own goalkeeper by defender Abdul Adenon and onto the line of the ASEC goal where Al Ahli's Angola international Flavio applied the finishing touch.
A sloppy defensive clearance in the last minute allowed substitute Mohamed Aboutrika to add a second goal and make sure of the win.
Al Hilal, who had already qualified, would have finished top of Group B had they won in Tunis on Sunday against Esperance but had to come from behind to claim their first away point of the group campaign.
Ndubuisi Eze converted a penalty on the stroke of half-time for the equaliser after Amine Ltfii had scored for Esperance in the 41st minute.
Al Ahli now take on Libya's Al Ittihad in the semifinals later this month while Al Hilal play group A winners Etoile Sahel of Tunisia.
Etoile had already qualified but lost their unbeaten record and conceded their first goal of the group campaign when Al Ittihad beat them 2-0 in Tripoli on Saturday.
Ali Rahuma gave Al Ittihad a 1-0 lead and Salem Rewani converted a second half penalty for his seventh goal of this year's campaign.
Al Ittihad's win ended the outside hopes of Algeria's JS Kabylie, who netted a late equaliser in a 1-1 draw at Morocco's Royal Armed Forces in Rabat on Saturday.
CULLED FROM: The Guardian | | Mido misses out but earns his cult status |  Mido, Middlesbrough's £6 million summer signing from Tottenham, would have written his name into Teesside folklore if he had become the first Boro player to score in his first three league games.
The Egyptian striker did not manage the feat, but he did enough to earn a standing ovation when he was substituted with three minutes remaining and to show Birmingham manager Steve Bruce what he missed.
Wheater scores Boro's first goal
Birmingham agreed a fee for the player in the summer but the deal never materialised and now the Riverside faithful have found a new hero to replace Yakubu and Mark Viduka.
Jeremie Aliadiere, recruited from Arsenal by Boro manager Gareth Southgate, is not far behind in the popularity stakes.
"That is the best we have played and there is more to come," said a delighted Southgate. "We are starting to look like a decent side."
His mood contrasted sharply to Bruce, who was clearly disgusted with his newly-promoted team.
"We were woeful," he said. "We made Boro look like worldbeaters and we're fortunate it was only 2-0. Mido is a very good striker and gave a performance to show us what we missed."
Homegrown centre back David Wheater and Stewart Downing scored the first-half goals which won Boro's third home game in a week. Full back Andrew Taylor and Wheater, both celebrating call-ups for the England Under-21 squad, combined to give their team an early advantage.
Taylor shrugged off a challenge to burst into the Birmingham box and cross for 20-year-old Wheater to score with a powerful header after 12 minutes.
Aliadiere forced Northern Ireland goalkeeper Maik Taylor to tip over a fierce shot before Cameron Jerome wasted a good opportunity for Birmingham by shooting at Mark Schwarzer.
Boro were furious when referee Rob Styles, who was "dropped" from the Premier League list after his gaffe in awarding Chelsea a penalty at Anfield, denied Aliadiere a goal. The Boro fans forgave him when Downing volleyed home after 37 minutes.
Bruce's patience ran out on the hour and he made a triple substitution, but in vain.
SOURCE: Daily Mail | | Action demanded over Mido abuse |  Anti-racism campaigners believe peer pressure will continue to be the best way of stamping out the kind of abuse aimed at Middlesbrough striker Mido.
The 24-year-old Egyptian was targeted by travelling Newcastle fans during Sunday's 2-2 Barclays Premier League draw at the Riverside Stadium as players from both sides were subjected to chants from the stands.
However, it was songs referring to Mido's religion - he is a Muslim - which have sparked a major debate in recent days.
The FA is to seek the observations of both clubs over the matter, but Piara Powar, director of Kick It Out, insists the fans themselves can help stamp out racism while still passionately supporting their team.
He told PA Sport: "Rivalry is healthy. The process of sledging opposition sides or insulting opposition sides is something that is as old as the game itself.
"It is part and parcel of high-level sport and part and parcel of most spectator sports.
"But strong rivalries cannot become an excuse for abusive behaviour on the basis of race, religion or even the basis of someone's sexuality.
"This is where peer pressure is so important. We need to make sure other people feel empowered enough to say, 'I disagree with that', and feel quite able to express their disapproval, as they have done over the abuse of black players.
"We need to reinforce these messages and to make sure we draw the line between acceptable chants and forms of abuse that are acceptable.
"Most people know where the line is drawn in terms of abuse of black players, most people know where the line is drawn in Glasgow, for example, in terms of religion."
Kick It Out has promised to work with both clubs and the authorities in an effort to deal with the issue.
While huge strides have been made in British football in recent years, campaigners insist racism remains a problem, and draw no distinction between discrimination on the basis of race, religion or anything else.
Powar said: "It is all part and parcel of the bigger thing we call racism.
"Certainly abusing a player because of the colour of his skin is no different to abusing a player of Egyptian background because he is a Muslim, or, because he is from Egypt, associating him with being a terrorist.
"It is all about prejudice, about discrimination and the way people live their lives.
"We have more education now. Black players are as equal as white and the status black players have obtained over the years speaks for itself.
"In this particular case, it is the fact that Mido as a Muslim and an Egyptian Muslim that has been picked up on.
"If we had a player that was an Indian Hindu, that would be as bad.
"It is what people pick out to abuse a player that makes it racism - it is the same with the sectarian divide in Glasgow.
"The mistake we would make is not to see this as racism or be surprised by it and allow people to think this is okay territory for them to go to.
"In that sense, some of the awareness that has been raised by what happened to Mido on Sunday, in a perverse sort of way, has been positive."
SOURCE: Daily Mirror | Mido in fury over bomb slur |  GARETH SOUTHGATE blasted the Toon boo-boys after Mido was subjected to sick terrorist taunts.
Boro’s new Egyptian striker was abused with chants of ‘Mido, he’s got a bomb you know’, after scoring his second goal for the club.
He immediately gestured for the Geordies to ‘Shut it’ as he celebrated his 29th-minute finish — and was promptly booked by referee Mike Dean.
Boss Southgate fumed: “It’s OK for 3,000 to abuse one person. But when the boot is on the other foot, he gets punished.
“In terms of civil liberties, I find that very strange. After scoring the goal, we had to calm him down a bit.”
Mido, on the end of similar chants while playing for Tottenham, cancelled out Charles N’Zogbia’s 20-yard Newcastle opener.
The taunts cast a cloud over an otherwise stonking North-East derby, which saw Boro grab a point thanks to a late Julio Arca strike.
Southgate added: “I was delighted with the quality we showed, especially because a few of our players didn’t have the right to be on the pitch. Jonathan Woodgate was struggling yesterday with a migraine and Luke Young has hardly had a pre-season.
"I had no intention of playing Jonathan. But once Chris Riggott and Andrew Davies were ruled out, I had no choice.”
Toon boss Sam Allardyce was pleased with the overall show but upset at conceding twice.
He said: “It was a terrific performance but the way we let the goals in was out of order. We didn’t defend either of their goals very well.
“Mike Ashley certainly seemed to enjoy himself. He wants to move things forward, though not as quickly as I would like.”
Boro supremo Steve Gibson reckons his club are well shot of Mark Viduka, who hit the visitors’ second goal after 77 minutes.
Viduka claimed his drawn-out switch to St James’ Park was prompted by Gibson’s failure to hand him a new contract soon enough.
But Gibson hit back: “That’s not true. I was told very early it was about money and Mark would go to the highest bidder.”
SOURCE: The Sun | | Mido making Boro impact | Middlesbrough striker Mido has been backed to carry on the form that has seen him score in both of his opening two games for the Riverside club.
The 24-year-old former Spurs frontman scored in the 2-2 draw with Newcastle United at the weekend, having previously found the net on his Boro bow in a 2-1 victory at Fulham.
Mido's Boro team-mate Julio Arca said: "He is going to be even better as the games go on because he has not played for a while.
"But even then, he has shown how good he is. He is going to get more pace and more confidence and then people will start to realise how good he is going to be for us."
Manager Gareth Southgate added: "Mido is the future and so are the other players we have brought in.
"He has already been a bit of a talisman for us, not only scoring the two in two, which is the perfect start for any striker, but his response in the dressing room - the way he has got the rest of the team fighting."
SOURCE: Telegraph | | Abdelaziz joins Trabzonspor |  Abdelaziz (left) rejoins coach Ziya Dogan (right)
Turkish side Trabzonspor have signed Egyptian international midfielder Ayman Abdelaziz.
The 28-year-old moves from rivals Genclerbirligi on a two-and-a-half-year contract.
Abdelaziz was recommended to the Black Sea outfit by coach Ziya Dogan to help the club avoid the drop.
Trabzonspor are currently lying in 13th place in the Turkish top flight just two points above the relegation zone.
"Coach Dogan wanted Abdelaziz in his squad and we believe that he will help us improve our position in the league," club director Kahraman Altuntas said.
The coach signed the midfielder while in charge of Malatyaspor in 2002 before signing him again for Genclerbirligi two years later.
"I'm very excited," said Abdelaziz.
"Everybody has expectations of us which we are hoping to meet. I have worked with Ziya Dogan for four years and it's an honour to rejoin him here."
Abdelaziz has been plying his trade in Turkey since 2000, when he joined Kocaelispor from Egyptian club Zamalek.
SOURCE: BBC Sport | | Egypt's Zidan rejoins Mainz |  Egyptian striker Mohamed Zidan has rejoined German club FSV Mainz 05 from rivals Werder Bremen.
The Egypt international Mohamed Zidan has signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with the Mainz-based club.
In one swift move, Zidan has gone from a team leading the league to the one that props up the Bundesliga.
"Zidan is now officially a Mainz player," Christian Heidel, football manager and official spokesman, said on Wednesday.
"We struggled hard to convince Bremen to let him go and we are ecstatic that we succeeded in doing that."
Zidan, who joined Bremen in 2004 from Danish club FC Midtjylland, was loaned to rivals Mainz last year after failing to hold down a regular place in Bremen's squad.
He went on to score 9 goals, including one against German giants Bayern Munich, in 27 appearances.
In his second spell, Zidan will face a tough task trying to help Mainz escape releagtion.
The club have eleven points from 17 games, and have yet to win away all season.
Zidan will have to wait until the resumption of the Bundesliga after its winter break for his first game, which is likely to be at VFL Bochum on Saturday 27 January.
SOURCE: BBC Sport | | Jose revels in Al Ahly victory |  Ahly coach Manuel Jose has called the Champions League victory over Tunisia's CS Sfaxien the most important moment in the Egyptian club's history.
The Cairo giants beat the first-time finalists 1-0 in Tunis on Saturday to lift the title 2-1 on aggregate.
Ahly drew level with bitter city rivals Zamalek by so doing, equalling their record tally of five Champions League triumphs. Jose's side also became only the third side in history to successfully defend their title, following DR Congo's TP Mazembe (1967 and 1968) and Nigeria's Enyimba (2003 and 2004). "I think it's the most important moment in the club's history and the most important title for me too," Jose told BBC Sport. "It's very special because it's the tenth title that I've won with the club.
"Since we started the season in June, we have had many problems.
"We have seven operations on very important players as well as the death of Mohamed Abdelwahab (in August), which was a big drama for all of us.
"Just being in the final was fantastic and we won this game because of the quality of our game in the second half.
"We were nervous in the first half and during half-time I tried to calm the players down.
"After the break, both our spirit and good football returned and the fantastic Mohamed Aboutreika scored a fantastic goal for us."
Aboutreika's strike was exquisitely timed, both in its execution and the stage of the match for he struck deep into added time at the end of the match. The fine left-footed volley from the edge of the area not only turned the match on its head, but also made the Egyptian international joint top scorer in the competition with 8 goals (along with Asec's Didier Ya Konan).
Until Aboutreika struck, CS Sfaxien had been seconds away from a maiden title but Ahly's victory means the Egyptians will now represent Africa at December's World Club Cup in Japan.
Ahly underperformed last year, knocked out by Saudi Arabia's Al Ittihad, and Jose has been critical of the Egyptian media for suggesting the club could win last year's crown.
"I hope that the players are free and not under the big pressure they suffered last year," he explained.
"The press can do what they want but they should not put in the minds of the people that we are going to Japan to be world club champions.
"I don't know if we are going to beat (New Zealand's) Auckland City or not, but we are going to play to enjoy.
"The pleasure is the prestige for the club, the technical staff and the players, and after that it's our duty to try to win the match - nothing more."
Ahly, who have now won Champions League title in 1982, 1987, 2001, 2005 and 2006, kick off their World Club Cup campaign in Toyota on 10 December.
SOURCE: BBC Sport | | Ahly hit Champs League jackpot |  Ahly of Egypt collected a club record in gate fees for a continental match in Sunday's African Champions League final first leg against CS Sfaxien of Tunisia.
The game made US$150,000 for the reigning African champions, the only match to make more money for them was their 1-0 win over Spanish giants Real Madrid back in 2001.
At least 74,000 spectators, a capacity crowd, crammed into the Cairo International Stadium to witness Ahly draw 1-1 with Sfaxien.
There were some reports that several thousand extra fans made it into the stadium making use of all the space available, including the gangways.
Sfaxien will be hoping for a similar windfall in the second leg on 11 November after moving the game from their home ground to the much larger Rades stadium in Tunis, which has a capacity of 60,000.
However, the money from the ticket sales is small change compared to the US$1m that is on offer for the eventual winners of the African Champions League.
SOURCE: BBC Sport | | Egyptians celebrate Ahly victory |  Mohamed Aboutrika scored a stunning volley two minutes into stoppage time to help Ahly of Egypt retain the Champions League title.
Aboutrika's strike helped Ahly beat hosts CS Sfaxien of Tunisia 1-0 at the Rades Stadium in Tunis on Saturday.
The Egyptian side's victory in the second-leg gave them a 2-1 win on aggregate.
Aboutrika's goal, shot from the edge of the penalty area as he ran on to a flick-on from Angola international Flavio, snatched the title away from their Tunisian hosts who had been on course to win the trophy for the first time.
A goalless draw would have been enough to give Sfaxien the title on the away goals rule but Aboutrika broke the deadlock to silence a 52,000-strong crowd and took Ahly to a record-equalling fifth time.
The only other side to have won it are their arch rivals Zamalek .
As well as winning the US$1 million in prize money, they will also represent African at next month's Club World Cup in Japan.
They became only the third club in more than 40 years to successfully defend the title.
Aboutrika's goal was his eighth of the competition, allowing him to finish as joint leading goal-scorer in this year's Champions League.
Ahly, hampered by injuries and suspensions, had several lucky escapes in the first half at the November 7 stadium, notably when Sfaxien defender Issam Merdassi headed wide with the goal at his mercy on the half-hour mark.
Tarak Ziadi had the ball in the Egyptian team's net just after the interval but was flagged offside.
Television replays showed that the Sfaxien striker had beaten the offside trap.
Ahly showed more enterprise as Sfaxien sought to sit on the goalless scoreline and slow down the game with several incidents of gamesmanship.
Flavio smashed a powerful shot against the crossbar in the 79th minute and went narrowly wide with a similar shot soon after.
The win marked the third title for Ahly's Portuguese coach Manuel Jose, who also took the Egyptians to Champions League success in 2001 and 2005.
SOURCE: BBBC Sport | | Sfaxien celebrations fuel Ahly coach |  Ahly coach Manuel Jose's preparations for the Champions League final have been fuelled by his anger over CS Sfaxien's celebrations after the first leg.
Once the opening game had ended 1-1 in Cairo, the Tunisians launched into exuberant celebrations which infuriated the Portuguese coach.
"We could have scored three in the first half but they equalised in the second half and then made a party at the end of the game," the outspoken Jose told BBC Sport.
"They thought they had won the final. But now they have a fantastic responsibility to do so because we are the champions.
"If they are going to win this cup, first they must pass over us.
"They made big celebrations after the last game but there are still 90 minutes left - wait for us."
Jose, whose side are looking to register a record-equalling fifth Champions League title, also called on his opponents to pursue fair play for the second leg on Saturday.
The Ahly boss is still upset about the time-wasting tactics employed by the Tunisians in the opening match at the Cairo International Stadium.
606 DEBATE: Who will win the African Champions League?
"The Sfaxien players should know that wasting time all the time is not fair play and is not football," he said.
"We have fair play. If they win on Saturday we will congratulate them."
While Sfaxien are chasing a first Champions League title, Ahly can equal further records should they lift the trophy in the 60,000-seater Rades stadium.
The 'Red Devils' could become the only the third side to successfully defend Africa's leading club trophy, after DR Congo's TP Mazembe (1967 and 1968) and Enyimba of Nigeria (2003 and 2004).
Jose believes a triumph this season would outweigh last year's title because of an horrific injury list this campaign - including to Egypt internationals Mohammed Barakat and Tarek El Sayed, both of whom will miss the final.
"We have a world record in matches unbeaten, 54 without defeat, and now we have another world record in surgery - nine operations!" half-joked and half-lamented the Portuguese boss.
"It has been a fantastic season for us because it has been very tough and we have had many problems.
"We are a bit weaker as a team than last season but we are mentally strong and I trust in my players.
"The team is ready to play well and win the competition again."
Ahly, who are unbeaten in the Egyptian league since February 2004 have previously won the Champions league in 1982, 1987, 2001, as well as last year.
SOURCE: BBC Sport | | Al Ahly player hit by positive drugs test |  Ahly midfielder Amro Samaka has failed a drugs teat and has been left out the squad for Saturday's second leg of the African Champions League.
Samaka has not travelled with his team-mates to Tunisia where they are due to play CS Sfaxien at the Rades Stadium.
The Confederation of African Football has confirmed that Samaka's first test, taken after a group match with JS Kabylie, tested positive for a banned substance.
His second sample is yet to be examined but if it too proves positive, Samaka faces a one-year ban.
Samaka is joined on the sidelines by Egyptian international Mohamed Barakat, who is suffering with an injured knee once again .
Barakat managed to battle back from injury to play in the first leg against CS Sfaxien that ended in a draw two weeks ago .
Ahly are also without midfield kingpin Mohamed Shawky, who is suspended after picking up a caution for the second time in three matches in the first leg of the final.
There are also long-term injuries to Emad Al Nahhas, striker Osama Hosni and the former Anderlecht midfielder Tarek Said.
Ahly are seeking to win the Champions League for a record-equalling fifth time and become only the third club in more than 40 years to successfully defend African football's top club prize.
SOURCE: BBC Sport | | Zamalek to host Ahly's opponents |  Cairo giants Zamalek have infuriated city rivals Ahly by inviting the Egyptians' Champions League opponents, CS Sfaxien, to train at their stadium.
Ahly, the reigning African champions, host the Tunisians in the Egyptian capital in the first leg of the final on Sunday.
CS Sfaxien, who arrive in Egypt on Thursday, will start their preparations at Zamalek's stadium that day.
The offer is an intriguing one because an Ahly triumph in this year's Champions League would take them level with Zamalek's record haul of five titles.
Zamalek officials have confirmed their offer for the Tunisians to use their ground as a training base for Thursday and Friday, with CS SFaxien expected to hold two sessions on both days.
"Yes, we did invite them," Egyptian newspaper Al-Jumhuriyah quoted Zamalek general manager Alaa Meqled as saying.
According to Confederation of African Football (Caf) rules, CS SFaxien have the right to train at the Cairo International Stadium on the eve of the game.
Meanwhile, Ahly entered a closed training camp in 6 October City on Wednesday.
They will train twice there on both Thursday and Friday, and host one session on Saturday morning before heading north to their Cairo home.
Zamalek have conquered Africa on five occasions (1984, 1986, 1993, 1996 and 2002), while Ahly have triumphs in 1982, 1987, 2001 and 2005 to their name.
SOURCE: BBC Sport | | Al Ahly cruise to comfortable semi-final win | Al Ahly cruise to comfortable semi-final win
Mohamed Aboutrika and Emad Moteab scored to lift holders Al Ahly of Egypt to a comfortable 2-0 win over ASEC Abidjan in Sunday's first leg of their African Champions League semi-final.
Aboutrika scored his sixth goal of the campaign to put the hosts ahead on 25 minutes and Moteab grabbed his fifth in this year's competition 13 minutes later to give Al Ahly a handy lead for the return leg in Abidjan on 15 October.
Winger Tarek Said was the provider of both goals, chipping for substitute Amro Samaka to lay off for Aboutrika to score the opener as he came from deep to catch the outstretched ASEC defence.
Samaka had been brought on after just 16 minutes for striker Osama Hosni, surprisingly pulled off early on the game by Al Ahly's Portuguese coach Manuel Jose.
Aboutrika's goal came just after two efforts had been well dealt with by ASEC's Burkina Faso international goalkeeper Mohamed Kabore.
But Kabore was at fault in the 38th minute when he allowed Moteab's header from Said's cross to slip through his hands for a tame goal.
The Egyptians dropped the intensity of their attack in the second half to allow ASEC a majority of the possession but no clear cut chances.
The Ivorian champions, who had finished top of their group in the league phase, were restricted to long-range efforts which rarely tested a limping Essam Al Hadari in Ahly's goal.
The match kicked off at 10pm because of the Muslim fast of Ramadan.
On Saturday, Tunisia's CS Sfaxien forced a goalless draw at South Africa's Orlando Pirates in Johannesburg in the other Champions League semi-final, first-leg tie. They play their return game in Sax on 14 October. CULLED from FIFA.com
| | Egyptian international Mohamed Zidan is enjoying himself at Mainz. |  The striker is on-loan from Werder Bremen and has already netted eight goals for the club.
"It's going really well. I have definitely proved that I can produce in the Bundesliga," he told BT.
"I have now netted eight league goals, but I am also working hard for success."
Zidan scored twice in Mainz's 2-1 win over Bayer Leverkusen at the weekend and feels the club's change of formation was a key factor in their win.
"It was important that we changed to a 4-4-2 formation. It gives me more attacking options," he added..
SOURCE: SKYSPORTS.com |
| | | | MIDO DENIES VIDUKA |  MARK Viduka came within minutes of handing Newcastle a precious derby victory on his return to Middlesbrough.
The Australian claimed his first goal in a black and white shirt and his 150th in British football 13 minutes from time as the Magpies twice took the lead at the Riverside Stadium.
But former team-mate and Sunderland old boy Julio Arca ensured the spoils were shared when he levelled three minutes later in an eventful game.
A fiercely-contested encounter-there were eight bookings-was not always of the highest quality, but that could not be said of the finishing on display with Charles N'Zogbia opening the scoring with a stunning 22nd-minute effort.
Mido (pictured above) cancelled out the lead within six minutes, expertly rounding Steve Harper after being played in by Fabio Rochemback, and although Sam Allardyce may have left Teesside bemoaning his side's failure to keep Boro out, the result was just about right on the day.
Obafemi Martins blasted harmlessly wide after being played in by Viduka on 16 minutes and it took a vital block from George Boateng to deny Alan Smith a free shot at goal seconds later.
However, the visitors went ahead with 22 minutes gone when full-back N'Zogbia produced a moment of rare brilliance.
The Frenchman was picked out on the left by Peter Ramage, on after just six minutes for the injured Stephen Carr, and cut inside Boateng before unleashing a superb curling shot which was simply too good for keeper Mark Schwarzer.
But Boro responded swiftly and were back on terms within six minutes when Mido ran on to Rochemback's beautifully-weighted pass over the top, held off Steven Taylor and then rounded Harper to shoot into an empty net.
The goal gave the Teessiders fresh impetus as the Magpies wilted momentarily, Harper scrambling across his goal as Rochemback's deflected shot sailed just wide and then pulling off a fine one-handed save to deny Arca.
Harper had to block with his legs on 53 minutes after Mido and Jeremie Aliadiere had played Rochemback in, and David Rozehnal hacked away Downing's cross seconds later with the Teessiders establishing a momentum.
Newcastle's woes increased on 59 minutes when Ramage was carried off on a stretcher to be replaced by Claudio Cacapa, Taylor taking over at right-back.
However, Viduka's big moment finally arrived on 77 minutes when he accepted N'Zogbia's pass, deftly turned Woodgate and after teeing the ball up, smashed a shot past the helpless Schwarzer.
However, Boro were not done and it was all square once again within three minutes, when Arca latched on to a clearance and drilled a left-foot shot into the bottom corner.
Owen might have won it in a frantic finish, but his flick from N'Zogbia's free-kick fell into Schwarzer's arms.
"I think we could have won the game but to come back twice from losing the game shows a lot of character and how this team is growing. We have a future here,” said Mido, after the match.
"When you lose your first two games it makes it a little bit doubtful for people.
"But we never had doubt, we know we have good people in the team."
CULLED FROM: News Of The World | | Mido abuse out of order - Southgate |  Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate hit out at Newcastle supporters and referee Mike Dean after striker Mido was subjected to distasteful chants during yesterday's Tees-Tyne derby thriller.
The Egypt striker was clearly angry and upset by taunts from more than 3,000 visiting fans before and after scoring in the terrific 2-2 draw at the Riverside.
Taunting the Toon: Mido celebrates in front of the Newcastle fans
The £6.8million man was booked for his celebrations in front of Newcastle supporters and Southgate said: "We had to calm Mido down. It's interesting that 3,000 people can abuse one person and nothing is done. When the boot is on the other foot, he gets in trouble."
Former Middlesbrough star Mark Viduka scored his first goal for Newcastle, but Boro chairman Steve Gibson has no regrets about letting the Aussie leave Teesside.
Gibson said: "I've read comments that we left it late to speak about a new contract, but that's not true. We spoke to him and his agent last Christmas and I was told very early that it was about money and Mark would go to the highest bidder.
"I was so uncomfortable that it was almost a relief to me when he went to Newcastle because of the sums involved."
SOURCE: Daily Mail | | Egypt name Spurs pair in squad for Sweden friendly | African champions Egypt have named Tottenham Hotspur striker Mido and midfielder Hossam Ghaly in a 22-man squad to face Sweden in a friendly on Wednesday.
The game will mark the 50th anniversary of the founding of CAF, the African Football Confederation.
Mido and Ghaly are joined for the Cairo match by midfielder Ahmed Fathy, who has just become the third Egyptian player in the English Premier league after moving to Sheffield United.
"We know it is a friendly match, but we are taking it very seriously," assistant-manager Shawky Ghareeb told Reuters.
Mido has not scored for Egypt since January 2006 when he netted the opening goal in the 3-0 drubbing of Libya in the African Nations Cup.
He was handed a six-month suspension after a public row with coach Hassan Shehata in the semi-final match against Senegal.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Essam el-Hadary (Al Ahli), Abdel-Wahid el-Sayyed (Zamalek).
Defenders: Abdel-Zaher el-Sakka (Konyaspor), Wael Gomaa (Al Ahli), Hani Saeed (Islamili), Amir Azmi (Paok), Mahmoud Fathallah (Ghazl el-Mahalla), Ahmed el-Gamal (Ismaili), Farag Shalabi (Ismaili), Sayyed Mouawad (Ismaili.)
Midfielders: Ahmed Fathi (Sheffield United), Hosni Abed-Rabbou (Ismaili), Mohamed Shawky (Al Ahli), Hassan Moustafa (Al Ahli), Hossam Ghaly (Tottenham Hotspurs), Ahmed Hassan (Anderlecht).
Forwards: Ahmed Abdel-Malik (Haras el-Hodoud), Omar Gamal (Ismaili), Emad Moteb (Al Ahli), Amr Zaki (Zamalek), Mido (Tottenham Hotspur), Mohamed Zidane (Mainz).
SOURCE: football. guardian.co.uk | | Egyptians celebrate Ahly victory |  Thousands of Egyptians took to the streets of Cairo to celebrate Ahly's 1-0 away victory over Tunisia's CS Sfaxien that handed them the African Champions League title.
Hundreds of car horns were honked and red flags flew from vehicle windows.
Fans blocked several key streets, chanting the names of Ahly's players and paying special tribute to midfielder Mohamed Aboutrika, who scored the goal two minutes into the stoppage time to complete a 2-1 aggregate win.
"We are so happy. We are so happy, we went to the club's premises to celebrate," said 19-year-old fan Michael Milad, wrapping himself with Ahly's flag.
"Aboutrika is so great. The goal came at a killer time."
The Egypt international fired home from the edge of the area as he ran on to a flick-on from Angola international Flavio.
His goal snatched the title away from the Tunisians, who had been on course to win the trophy for the first time on away goals.
Ahly, the most popular club in Egypt and the Middle East, took Africa's top club trophy for a record-equalling fifth time.
They became only the third club in more than 40 years to successfully defend the title.
The victory came against the expectations of many supporters and Egyptian football pundits, who had said the Tunisian side were more likely to clinch the title given Ahly's below-par away form in previous matches during this year's campaign.
"This was the most difficult title in the history of Ahly...Aboutrika was very creative," former Ahly and Egypt player Taher Abou-Zeid told Arab Radio and Television (ART).
"They gave it their all in the second half and changed the impression about their performance in away matches...Sfaxien were on the defensive all of the second half (but) you can't just sit back and defend in a match like this."
Ahly, coached by Portugal's Manuel Jose, will now play at next month's World Club Cup in Japan.
SOURCE: BBC Sport | | Ahly hit Champs League jackpot | \ Ahly of Egypt collected a club record in gate fees for a continental match in Sunday's African Champions League final first leg against CS Sfaxien of Tunisia.
The game made US$150,000 for the reigning African champions, the only match to make more money for them was their 1-0 win over Spanish giants Real Madrid back in 2001.
At least 74,000 spectators, a capacity crowd, crammed into the Cairo International Stadium to witness Ahly draw 1-1 with Sfaxien.
There were some reports that several thousand extra fans made it into the stadium making use of all the space available, including the gangways.
Sfaxien will be hoping for a similar windfall in the second leg on 11 November after moving the game from their home ground to the much larger Rades stadium in Tunis, which has a capacity of 60,000.
However, the money from the ticket sales is small change compared to the US$1m that is on offer for the eventual winners of the African Champions League.
SOURCE: BBC Sport | | Sfaxien step on the threshold of glory |  Tunisia's CS Sfaxien took a major step to a maiden Champions League title when drawing 1-1 with Egyptians Ahly on Sunday in the first leg of the final in the Cairo International Stadium.
Ahly, the defending champions, put the visitors under pressure early on and were rewarded for their endeavours when opening the scoring through Mohamed Aboutrika after 25 minutes.
But Sfaxien goalkeeper Ahmed Jaouachi kept his side in the game with a fine performance, and shortly after the break Ghanaian striker Joetex Frimpong scored a crucial away goal for the Tunisians.
The advantage is with CS Sfaxien who will host the second leg in Tunisia on Saturday 11 November.
Ahly started with their usual flurry of attacks and striker Emad Moteab was unlucky after eight minutes when his powerful header struck the post.
Sfaxien goalkeeper Ahmed Jaouachi had a nervy start, struggling in the air and he was lucky when Aboutrika free-kick sailed narrowly over the crossbar.
The visitors first threatened after 20 minutes when veteran goalkeeper Essam al-Hadary had to move oved swiftly off his line to thwart Tarek Ziadi after a clever pass by Abdelkrim Nafti.
Shortly after, a header from Angola's World Cup striker Flavio header brought out the best in Jaouachi as he acrobatically tipped the ball over.
At the other end, Mohamed Sedik blocked an attempt from Frimpong while Moteab managed to head timidly wide before the end of a lively first half.
Ahly seemed in command as the second half unfolded only to be caught cold by a classic Sfaxien counter-attack when Fateh Gabri teed up Frimpong for a soft equaliser after 53 minutes.
Al-Hadary pushed away a Ziadi shot after another Sfaxien break down the left carved open the normally tight Ahly defence.
Ahly coach Manuel Jose threw on all his substitutions as he looked for a winner and the home side mistakenly thought they had earned a penalty when Wael Riad fell in the box moments after joining the action.
If Sfaxien win the title, it will set up the possibility of a Tunisian club double as compatriots Etoile Sahel are set to face title holders FAR Rabat of Morocco in next month's Confederation Cup final.
SOURCE: BBC Sport | | Egypt's FA steps into help Ahly |  The Egyptian FA has stepped into help Ahly's preparations for the second leg of the African Champions League final by postponing Monday's league match against ENPPI.
No new date has been set for the game between ENPPI and Ahly, who are the reigning Egyptian and African champions.
The Egyptian side are due to travel to Tunisia this week for Saturday's second leg of the Champions League final against CS Sfaxien, with the two sides locked at 1-1 after the first leg in Cairo.
CS Sfaxien were not so lucky and the Tunisia Football Federation insisted that they play their league game against Hammam Sousse on Sunday, which ended goalless.
More than 46,000 tickets for the match have gone on sale in the city of Sfax, which is some 300 kilometres south of Tunis where the match is to be hosted.
The game has been moved to the Rades Stadium in Tunis because it has a 60,000-seat capacity compared to Sfaxien's home ground that holds just 12,000 fans.
Fans from rival clubs including Esperance, Club Africain and Etoile du Sahel are expected to back CS Sfaxien in their attempt to win the trophy for the first time.
Meanwhile, thousands of Egyptian fans are expected to follow Ahly to Tunis with many flights to Tunisia already fully booked for the days leading up to the game. SOURCE: BBC Sport | | Give us a break - weary Al-Ahly coach pleads | Al Ahly coach Manuel Jose has pled patience from Egyptian soccer chiefs, as Al-Ahly battle to keep the African Champions League trophy.
The 'Red Devils' of Cairo were surprisingly held 1-1 at home by surprise packets Club Sportif Sfaxien of Tunisia Sunday in the first leg of the final despite the backing of 80,000 fanatical supporters.
And as Portugal-born Jose surveyed the wreckage after a match his team were expected to win by several goals, he pleaded for a weary, injury-hit squad to be given a break from domestic action.
Ahly want fixtures against Al-Masry and ENPPI postponed so they can concentrate on the winner-takes-all showdown with Sfaxien on November 11 at the 60,000-capacity Rades Stadium on the outskirts of Tunis.
"Al-Ahly are representing Egypt and not just the club. I am in trouble due to injuries. Look at our bench and you'll notice most of the substitutes are young players," Jose told reporters Monday.
"We have been sufferng from injuries since mid-year and the Egyptian football authorities should assist us because our players are under continuous pressure with one major match after another.
"I cannot prepare the squad properly if we have to fulfil national championship fixtures against Al-Masry and ENPPI before travelling to Tunisia," added Jose.
The Portuguese coach who chews gum with the same intensity as Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was also upset by the first-leg refereeing of Gambian Modou Sowe.
"There is always poor refereeing in the Champions League, but the African Football Confederation (CAF) does nothing about it,' complained the two-time Champions League-winning coach.
"We will be protesting about the refereeing and sending CAF a videotape of the game because Sfaxien were continuously wasting time yet the match officials took no action."
Sowe did caution Sfaxien goalkeeper Ahmed Jaouachi for time wasting and the fears of Sfaxien coach Mrad Mahjoub that the west African official would be intimidated by the International Stadium crowd proved unfounded.
He brushed aside three first-half Ahly penalty appeals in quick succession amid deafening noise in arguably the most intimidating football cauldron on the continent.
However, he erred in not punishing defenders Hadj Massaoud of Sfaxien, after he kicked a fallen Ahmed Shadid, and Wael Gomaa, who appeared to be auditioning for a karate movie with one second-half tackle.
While the final whistle found many Sfaxien players celebrating as if they had won the Champions League for the first time, senior coach Mahjoub was taking nothing for granted.
"Obviously, I'm very happy with the result, but my players must realise that we have another final to play in Tunis. This tie is far from over," stressed the bearded coach who shuns the limelight.
When the clubs clashed during the pool phase, Sfaxien won 1-0 at home thanks to a headed goal from Issam Merdassi, a result that ended a 78-match unbeaten run by Ahly in Africa spanning more than two years.
SOURCE: Yahoo! Sports. |
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