After last week’s debacle that is the FIFA monthly rankings–how Israel is 15th and African champions Egypt remain in the 22nd position is beyond me–we turned our attention back to more local matters as Egypt’s Al Ahly won the CAF African Champions League for a record sixth time on Sunday after beating Coton Sport of Cameroon 4-2 on aggregate.

A 2-2 draw in the second leg of the final in Garoua, Cameroon ensured success for the Cairo team after their 2-0 victory in the first leg two weeks ago. Al Ahly, competing in the final for a fourth successive year, held off a second half comeback from their hosts to book a place at next month’s World Club Cup in Japan. They set up a handy lead on Sunday when veteran midfielder, Ahmed Hassan scored the opening goal, flicking home the ball with the outside of his right foot seven minutes from half-time at the end of a short corner routine.The boisterous home crowd were given hope of a comeback when Karim Abdoul equalized with a shot from the edge of the penalty area on the stroke of half-time. Coton Sport, needing three more goals to turn around the aggregate scoreline, took the game to their visitors after the break. They managed one more goal just past the hour mark when Baba Ousmaila headed home from a free kick.

Despite running Al Ahly ragged, Coton Sport’s strikers still spurned several good chances with Ousmaila and Daouda too hasty in executing their chances. Al Ahly kept up their unbeaten run in the latter stages of this year’s competition when Mohamed Barakat was pushed in Coton Sport’s penalty area in second half added time and captain Shady Mohamed converted from the spot.

On one hand, Al Ahly had previously held the record of five Champions League wins jointly with fellow Egyptian side, Zamalek. In contrast, Coton Sport were competing in the final for the first time, hoping to become the first side from Cameroon to win Africa’s top club prize in 28 years.