Zamalek supporters go wild

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Supporters of Egyptian club Zamalek vented anger at club officials during a 1-1 draw with Berekum Chelsea of Ghana in the CAF Champions League this weekend in Cairo.

A crowd restricted to 3,000 because of post-Arab spring security concerns insulted chairman Mamdouh Abbas and fellow board members throughout the matchday 5 Group B game.

They were unhappy at the dismal showing by the five-time African champions in the premier CAF club competition, with the draw against Chelsea ending a run of four consecutive losses.

It was the first time since last February, when 74 people died in post-match Port Said rioting after a national league game, that Egyptian authorities permitted spectators at a match.

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Domestic football has also been barred, leaving Zamalek with no competitive matches between CAF fixtures, and desperately short of income to pay a star-studded squad.

Mohamed Ibrahim put the Knights ahead on 13 minutes after slick passing with Burkina Faso-born Abdoulaye Cisse and sloppy defending allowed Awudu Nafiu to equalise before the half-hour mark.

The Cairo result opens the door to a semi-final place for TP Mazembe from the Democratic Republic of Congo, who will take an unassailable four-point lead over Chelsea if they defeat already qualified Al Ahly of Egypt in Lubumbashi Sunday.

Title holders Esperance of Tunisia and Sunshine Stars of Nigeria have secured semi-finals places from Group A with ASO Chlef of Algeria pointless and Etoile Sahel of Tunisia disqualified over crowd trouble.

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