Nigerian Ajayi hits winner as Ahly shock Esperance

After holding record eight-time champions Ahly 2-2 in Alexandria last weekend, Esperance took a second-leg lead through leading scorer Taha Yassine Khenissi off a 40th-minute penalty.

Tunisian defender Ali Maaloul levelled for Ahly soon after half-time and midfielder Ajayi struck the crucial second goal on 62 minutes.

Winning at the 60,000-capacity Stade Olympique in Tunis suburb Rades gave Ahly a 4-3 overall victory and a semi-finals date with Etoile Sahel of Tunisia or Al Ahly Tripoli of Libya.

History repeated itself as Ahly won 2-1 at the same ground to win the 2012 Champions League final after being held at home in the first leg.

"Nothing has been decided," Ahly coach Hossam El Badry warned the Tunisian media after the first leg last Saturday in which the Egyptians had to come from behind to draw.

Ahly had not impressed on the road in previous Champions League matches this season, winning only one of four, and failing to score in three matches.

The home form of Esperance had been good with three victories, and a draw against defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa.

USM Alger of Algeria also reached the semi-finals, but not in the anticipated manner after only drawing 0-0 at home against surprise quarter-finalists Ferroviario Beira of Mozambique.

Favoured to win comfortably having struck 11 goals in four other home Champions League matches, USM scraped through on away goals after a 1-1 aggregate tie.

Ferroviario, who had conceded 11 goals on the road during four losses, bowed out after a brave showing in Algiers.

Sundowns defend a 1-0 lead over Wydad Casablanca of Morocco in Rabat late Saturday and Etoile host Ahly Tripoli Sunday after a goalless first leg.