A strike by Walid Soliman at the 72 minute handed Ahly their first-ever away win against Cameroon's Coton Sport in Garoua, putting the African champions just one game away from the Confederation Cup final.  

Bidding to become the first-ever Egyptian outfit to claim Africa's second club competition, Ahly emerged 1-0 winners against a resilient opponent whom they failed to beat away from home on two previous Champions League occasions.

The Cairo giants now take a one-goal lead home before hosting the Cameroonians in a fortnight, while the other semi-final clash sees Ivory Coast's Sewe Sport entertain Congo's Leopard.

Thrilling opening minutes

Ahly came on with all guns blazing from the outset, and Soliman almost gave Ahly an unlikely lead in the first minute when his strike from inside the area was tipped over by the keeper.

Newly-signed right back Bassem Aly, however, could have cost his side a goal just two minutes later when his attempted clearance sliced towards goal, but Egypt keeper Sherif Ekramy was there to keep a clean sheet.

African champions Ahly, who have been relegated to the Confederation Cup after exiting the Champions League last-16, could have taken the lead just one minute later when Soliman was played through by Mohamed Farouk to go one-on-one with the keeper, who rushed out to block the winger's effort.

The tempo of the game then lowered, until Coton striker Rostan Kako threatened the Egyptians' goal at 26 minutes in, when he received the ball inside the box before turning and hitting a low strike that missed the target.

Two minutes later, midfielder Mahmoud 'Trezeguet' - who played as the head of a midfield trio including Ahmed Khairy and Hossam Ghaly – tried his luck from a distance, but keeper Maxime Feudjou was there to thwart the attempt.  

Soliman wins the game

Unlike the busy first half, the second half got off to a quiet start, until Ahly coach Juan Garrido moved to substitute Farouk, who had looked lively in the opening minutes, with ex-Coton man Moussa Yedan.

Yedan, who is mainly deployed on the left flank, was played in with a magnificent through ball from the red-hot Soliman but the Burkinabe international's chipped effort missed the target by inches three minutes after the hour mark.     

The contingent of Ahly fans in the stands in Garoua breathed a sigh of relief just a minute later, when striker Kako failed to connect with 16-year-old Moussa Bana's cross from inside the six yard box.

The hosts were made to pay for that particular wasted chance when Soliman, who brilliantly exploited the pockets of space between the lines, received the ball from Yedan, before unleashing a left-footed strike that beat the advancing keeper.    

Ahly held on during the final minutes to preserve their slender lead, and they now take a precious first-leg lead home. 

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