Esperance coach Nabil Maaloul expressed his happiness at his team’s qualification for  the CAF Champions League semi finals after holding  Egyptian giants Al Ahly to a 1-1 draw in Cairo. Maaloul said that his team was now  halfway towards winning the title they lost last season to DR Congo’s TP Mazembe.

The coach told Cafonline.com after the game that he  expected the Cairo game to go the way it did with what he thought  Ahly would do spot on.

How do you evaluate your 1-1 draw and your semi final qualification?

I expected how the game went on and had told that to my players before the game. It was a tough match for both of the teams as they searched for the qualification ticket. We had a good game till the last minute when  we knew that WAC was losing  to MC Alger which motivated Ahly players. We tried to stop their key players Ahmed Fathy , Sayed Moawad and Abou Treika and we did that well and also had some scoring chances.

And why you kept your star Oussam Darragui on the bench?

It was a tactical ploy because l knew that Ahly was  going to attack from the very beginning playing at their home ground. We had to press on their midfield and that’s why I kept Darragui out as he is more of an attacker than a defender. I introduced him in the second half  to press on Ahly’s defence later in the game.

Do you consider this game key to  winning the Champions League?

What I was looking for is winning the group so that I can have the second leg of the semi final and final at home. In the Champions League nothing could be expected.

It was obvious that you relied on the free kicks and Banana scored from one of them. Did  you train specifically at  that?

Yes we concentrated on that because I knew our players are taller than Ahly ones. Banana is 190 cm tall and he took the lead for us.

How do you see Ahly’s exit from the Champions League?

Ahly is a great champion with an amazing history, but we were the better side on Friday and we achieved qualification. It was a tough match.