By Amr Shaheen BBC Sport, Cairo

Ismaili coach Theo Bucker has been boosted by the return of two World Youth Championship players

Football fans in Egypt are getting behind title-holders Ismaili as the second leg of the African Champions League final against Nigerian side Enyimba approaches on Friday.

The Egyptian club has the full backing of supporters and officials ahead of their attempt to overturn a 2-0 defeat suffered in the first leg of the final in the Nigerian city of Aba.

Even the eldest son of Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak is an Ismaili fan, and Alaa Mubarak has taken time this week to watch the Ismailia-based team in a warm-up match as well as wish the side luck.

Meanwhile, Cairo giants Zamalek have bought one thousand tickets for the final and organised buses to transport fans from the Egyptian capital to Ismailia to support the Champions League finalists in what Zamalek president Kamal Darweesh called 'national duty'.

Zamalek and Ismaili have enjoyed historical ties ever since the latter used Zamalek's facilities and training pitch before beating TP Mazembe of the then Zaire (now DR Congo) in Cairo in the second leg of the 1969 African Cup final.

Ismaili had to play in Cairo due to an ongoing war with Israel, and won 3-1 to take the trophy 5-3 on aggregate.

Yet the Champions League finalists' relations with Zamalek's arch rivals Al Ahly are less warm and the rivalry between the two is so fierce that some Ahly fans would prefer it if Ismaili lost the final.

Ironically, Egypt's early elimination from the World Youth Championship has given Ismaili coach Theo Bucker a boost as he has been able to recall defender Hosny Abd Rabo and forward Ahmed Fathy, two key players who both missed the first leg of the final on international duty.

"We will win because our regulars are back," the German coach explained.

Should Ismaili win the Champions League title on Friday, they will become the third successive Egyptian team to win the title after Al Ahly and Zamalek triumphed in 2001 and 2002 respectively.

Meanwhile, Enyimba are seeking to become the first Nigerian side to ever win Africa's elite club tournament.