Simba had come from a goal down to lead 2-1 courtesy of two quick second half goals, but their hopes of another win against the Red Devils of Cairo were thwarted as the latter picked a hard earned draw in the first leg of the quarter final.

The result means Simba must now go and win in Cairo next Tuesday to make the semi-finals, but in the least, a draw of three or more goals would be enough to sail them into the last four.

A rather cautious start from both sides didn’t create much chances, but Ahly went to the break a goal up. At the stroke of halftime, Reda Slim found the back of the net when he ran on to a through ball from Kahraba, sliding it past the keeper.

Slim had constantly been a threat and had some chances to score, but he ensured his best opportunity ended with the ball in the back of the net.

Simba had struggled to create clear cut chances, and their best opportunity was off a Clatous Chama freekick that curled beyond the wall but ended up in a comfortable catch for Mohamed El Shanawy.

In the second half though, Simba were off to a pacy start, tajnks to changes they had made. Kanoute and Jean Baleke coming on for Luis Miquissone and Mzamiru Yassin.

They were rewarded just seven minutes after the restart when Kibu dived to head in from close range after Chama had done well to float back a cross from the backpost.

And, the stadium roared into deafening crescendo just eight minutes later when Simba got into the lead, substitute Kanoute glancing in a header from the near post off a corner.

However, some poor marking from a setpiece at the back cost them as off a Magdy Afsha delivery from a freekick, substitute Marawan Attia slapped the ball across goal with keeper Salim pushing it to Kahraba’s path, the latter tapping home.

Despite the leveler, Simba still had the belief and they kept pushing. They almost got back into the lead with quarter of an hour left to play, but Saido Ntibazonkiza saw his shot from the edge of the box come off the bar.

Efforts to raise the attack by Simba could not conjure a third goal, and they now head for the return tie in Cairo next weekend needing either an outright win or a high scoring draw of more than two goals to progress.