An early first-half goal by John Antwi for Al Ahly was enough to hand the Red Devils a win over Tunisian giants Esperance in their CAF Confederation Cup Group A match on Saturday night at Stade Olympique de Radès.

The win took the Egyptians to the top of the group, whilst the Tunisians bow out of the continental showpiece with one match to go.

In the beginning of the match, the visitors were the most effective and showed hunger as early as the sixth minute when Ghanaian striker John Antwi put the Red Devils ahead from Ramadan Sobhi's cross.

The hosts pushed for an equaliser when Ilyes Jelassi forced Sherif Ekramy to make a great save from a free kick.

Although Fakhreddine Ben Youssef seemed to have been fouled in the box, Esperance's penalty appeal was denied.

However, the visitors, through Sobhi, came close to adding number two but he missed his one-on-one with Moez Ben Cherifia.

In the second stanza, the hosts pushed for an equaliser when Nigerian striker Samuel Eduok took his chance from range, but he was denied by Ekramy.

It was the goalscorer, Antwi, who found the back of the net for the Egyptians but he was flagged up for an offside despite actually being onside.

Espérance de Tunis will host Al Ahly in Radès on Saturday, in matchday five of the 2015 CAF Confederation Cup.

The ‘Blood and Gold’, who recorded their first win in the competition against Stade Malien in Bamako following three consecutive losses, are bringing up the rear in Group A on three points. And anything but a home victory against the Cairo giants will see them bow out of Africa’s second-tier club tournament.

Boosted by the return of former football chairman Riadh Bennour at the helm of their technical staff, Espérance will be desperate to bounce back after their elimination in the quarterfinals of the Tunisian Cup, as well as seek revenge against Ahly, who thrashed them 3-0 in Suez in their continental campaign opener.

However, the Tunisians will have to do without centre-back Ali Machani, who is suspended for accumulation of bookings.

The ‘Red Devils’, who are lying second in the group table on seven points, will seal their spot in the last four should they grab all three points in Radès and Stade Malien fail to defeat Etoile du Sahel in the other fixture, while a draw could also prove enough for the eight-time African champions if Etoile win in Bamako.

And while Ahly boss Fathi Mabrouk remains wary of their opponents, the ambition is high in the Egyptian camp despite the absence of the injured trio of Ahmed Fathi, Saleh Gomaa and Amr Gamal.

“The Esperance match will not be an easy one. The appointment of new technical staff will boost the players' morale and they will also enjoy the support of their fans in the stands,” Mabrouk told the club’s official website.

“We studied the opponents well through the video of their last match in the Tunisia Cup. We won't play only for securing a spot in the semifinals, but to win and regain the group lead.”

The match will kick off at Stade Olympique de Radès at 19h00 CAT on Saturday 22 August 2015.