Al Ahly v Stade Malien | Match Preview CAF Confederation Cup
Holders Al Ahly will conclude the Orange CAF Confederation Cup group stage campaign by entertaining Stade Malien of Mali CAF Confederation in the ultimate Group A match on Saturday in Suez.
Ahly, aiming for a successful defence of the second-tier continental club title have already booked their place for the semis following a lone goal victory over Esperance in the penultimate match three weeks ago in Rades, and will be joined by Tunisian side, Etoile du Sahel in the last four.
Despite guaranteeing qualification, Ahly will play to finish tops of the group to avoid a semi-final meeting with bitterest rivals, Zamalek. The White Knights are hot favourites finish at the summit of Group B, and the two sides will face off each other in the event each other fail to finish at the summit of their respective groups.
The Red Devils concluded their preparations for the Day Six clash by engaging Spanish La Liga outfit, Getafe in a friendly in Madrid last week. Striker Ahmed Abdel Zaher scored for the Cairo giants in the 1-1 draw which saw coach Fathi Mabrouk give the chance to some fringe players, given that eight of his players were on international duty with Egypt in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Chad in N’Djamena.
[socialpoll id=”2294307″]Also on national duty was new recruit, Malick Evouna who scored a brace in Gabon’s 4-0 win over Sudan in Libreville.
“We are playing to win although we guaranteed a semi-final spot”, Mabrouk told TV Reporters.
“Our aim is to win the group, no matter our opponents at the semis. We want to retain our title and to do so we have to be ready to face any other side, especially at this level”, added the 59 year old coach.
Mabrouk will guide Ahly into the game without a number of key players. Ghanaian import John Antwi, who was voted Ahly’s player of the month in August sustained an ankle injury against Esperance and will be sidelined for the game. Midfielders Hossam Ghaly and Saleh Gomaa are both injured, while right back Bassem Ali is suspended.
“Against Getafe, I tried many players, and come Saturday I will find the suitable line-up. It was a good experience to play in Madrid. The Stade Malien game is a very important one for us.
“They are the only side yet to lose against us in this campaign. We also have the domestic cup semi-final 72-hours later. This is Champions destiny; to be always ready to win” concluded Mabrouk.
Both sides failed to score when they met in the reverse fixture in Bamako last July. The game kicks off at 18H30 GMT in the coastal city of Suez.
