Ahly are looking to maintain a recent superb run but they will have to do without several key players when they take on Stade Malien away from home in the African Confederation Cup on Saturday.
The Red Devils were given a new lease of life following the arrival of coach Fathi Mabrouk, losing only once in 11 matches, stats that prompted many fans to question why the board did not sack Spanish coach Juan Garrido earlier when there were still hope of an Egyptian Premier League triumph.
Ahly might have lost hope of equaling their own record of winning the domestic league title nine times in a row, with arch rivals Zamalek looking close to ending an 11-year drought, but they still have the Confederation Cup to play for.
They became the first Egyptian side to win Africa’s secondary competition when they struck late to beat Ivory Coast’s Sewe Sport in last year’s two-legged final, adding a 20th continental title to their trophy-laden cabinet.
Having been demoted to the Confederation Cup for the second straight year following a last-16 elimination from the elite Champions League, Ahly qualified for the group stage with a penalty shootout win over Club Africain before opening their Group A campaign with an impressive 3-0 win over another Tunisians side in Esperance.
They take on a Stade Malien side who will be looking to make up for an opening 1-0 loss at Tunisia’s Etoile Sahel.
“This will be a very difficult match because of the exhausting trip to Bamako and the absence of many regular players,” Mabrouk said on the club’s official website.
“We will only have 17 players available, including three goalkeepers. The weather conditions will be also against us and I didn’t any of my players to break their fast,” he added, referring to the kick-off time on the 25th day of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
Ahly will miss attacking midfielder Walid Soliman, defensive midfielder Hossam Ashour and full-back Mohamed Hani due to suspension.
Midfielder Mohamed Rezk and Eslam Roshdi are banned from travelling outside Egypt as they are due to report for military service while Nigerian striker Peter Ebimobowei and winger Karim Bambou are ruled out with injuries.
“We will still play for a win despite all that,” added Mabrouk, who is uncertain to remain in his job beyond the end of the season amid reports suggesting that Ahly are lining up Brazilian Jorvan Vieira, a former coach of Zamalek, as a replacement.
