Al Ahly edged closer to qualifying for the CAF Champions League quarter-finals after defeating Stade d'Abidjan 3-1 in the penultimate group clash on Saturday evening.
The Red Devils made four changes following their loss against CR Belouizdad, as Amr El Solia, Yasser Ibrahim, Marwan Ateya and Akram Tawfik were recalled while Bafana Bafana forward Percy Tau was not in the squad following his reported move to Qatar.
Marcel Koller's charges were on the front foot in the early exchanges, as they created a number of chances but were kept at bay by goalkeeper Drissa Bamba.
Stade d'Abidjan stunned The Red Devils just before the half-hour mark after Saint-Jean Koré broke the deadlock with a strike from a rebound outside the box.
The Egyptian giants struggled to find a way past Les Yeyes, who defended much better and in numbers in the latter phase of the first stanza.
As a result, the visitors were reduced to strikes from range that did not trouble Bamba and The Devils went to the interval trailing by an odd goal.
However, Al Ahly were back on level terms early in the second stanza after Emam Ashour converted a through ball from Wessam Abou Ali from close range.
Al Ahly gained momentum as they put the Ivorian under pressure, who were holding on only thanks to the heroics of Bamba.
However, Al Ahly eventually went ahead with 17 minutes remaining courtesy of a header by Ashour, who also got his brace from a cross by Khaled Abdel Fattah.
The visitors looked more likely to score in the dying minutes as Ashour had a shot in the box that missed narrowly wide.
Ashour finally sealed the result in stoppages and completed his hat-trick after making it 3-1 for The Red Devils with a strike into the bottom from a quick counter-attack.
Ahly jumped above Orlando Pirates at the top of Group C by two points.
Pirates host CR Belouizdad on Sunday to complete the penultimate round in the group.
