'Gedo' injury blow as Ahly hold Etoile

Johannesburg (AFP) - Al-Ahly star Mohamed 'Gedo' Nagy could be sidelined for six months after injuring his knee in a 1-1 CAF Confederation Cup draw against Etoile Sahel.

'Gedo' retired 30 minutes into the CAF heavyweights draw at the weekend and a club official told Egyptian media the striker would be out of action for up to half a year.

Nagy only recently returned to action for the Cairo 'Red Devils' after foot surgery and rejoins a long casualty list, including fellow striker Emad Moteab.

Egyptians Ahly and Tunisians Etoile are among the three most successful CAF clubs with 26 titles between them and the Group B match at Mediterranean resort Sousse did not disappoint.

Cautious Ahly were content to sit back during the opening half, but the tactic backfired near half-time when 2006 Confederation Cup winners Etoile scored.

Ahmed Fahy and Saad Samir failed to cut off a cross and Algerian Baghdad Bounedjah beat goalkeeper Sherif Ekramy from close range.

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Etoile wasted several early second-half chances to score more goals and were punished just before the hour mark.

Gamal darted on to a pass from substitute Ahmed Shokri and scored with the only shot Ahly had on target.

Etoile finished strongly at the Stade Olympique with in-form Bounedjah foiled by the woodwork before Marouane Tej blazed wide.

The clash of giants at the 30,000-seat stadium was watched by a crowd restricted to 8,000 owing to post-Arab Spring security concerns.

A point kept Ahly top of the table with four, Etoile and Ivorians Sewe San Pedro have two each and Zambians Nkana one.

Sewe were grateful to goalkeeper Ake Ahouchi for a 1-1 draw at Nkana in a match overshadowed by the death of home club coach Masauso Mwale.

The 51-year-old died on the eve of the game from severe head injuries after his car overturned on the Ndola-Kitwe highway.

Roger Assale put the Ivorians ahead midway through the opening half, Roger Kampamba equalised, and a string of spectacular Ahouchi saves denied the Zambians maximum points.

Cameroonians Coton Sport leapt from the bottom to the top of Group A with a 2-1 home victory over Malians Real Bamako in Garoua.

Nigerien Daouda Kamilou scored to give the 'Cottoners' a 1-0 half-time advantage, Badra Ali Sylla equalised and Ephraim Yosanguim snatched the 80th-minute match-winner.

Kofi Boua missed a penalty, had a goal ruled offside, and fluffed several other scoring opportunities as Ivorians ASEC Mimosas were held 0-0 by Congolese AC Leopards in Abidjan.

Coton have three points, ASEC two, and Leopards and Real one each with the Cameroonians and Congolese playing a game less