Al Ahly ready for Orlando Pirates

Hossam Ghaly, Walid Soliman and Bassem Aly are out of Ahly’s trip to South Africa, while Malick Evouna has recovered and will be ready for the Orlando test.

Ahly’s Gabonese striker Malick Evouna has been included in the travelling squad, which is headed to South Africa to face the Orlando Pirates in the Confederation Cup semi-final.

Defending champions Ahly, who lost the Egypt Cup title to rivals Zamalek on Monday, will play the first leg away against the Orlando Pirates on 26 September before hosting the South African side on 4 October at home.

Evouna missed Ahly’s last two matches in the Egypt Cup semi-final and final against Petrojet and Zamalek due to a muscle strain.

According to Ahly’s official website, Evouna, who joined the club in July off Morocco’s Wydad Casablanca on a 3-year-contract worth $2.4m, has recovered and is to be included in the 20-man squad announced by coach Fathi Mabrouk.

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Injured midfield duo Hossam Ghaly and Walid Soliman were not available in the squad, while fullback Bassem Aly is also absent due to suspension.

Also at the Confederation Cup semi-final, Zamalek, Ahly’s bitter rivals, will visit Tunisia’s Etoile Sahel on 27 September and will host them in the second leg on 3 October.

Should both Ahly and Zamalek advance, they will face off in their first ever meeting in Africa’s secondary club competition as they normally clash in the elite Champions League.

Ahly’s 20-man squad:

Goalkeepers: Sherif Ekramy, Ahmed Adel, Mosaad Awad

Defenders: Ahmed Fathi, Saad Samir, Mohamed Nagiub, Sherif Hazem, Huessin El-Sayed, Mohamed Hani, Sabri Rahil

Midfilders: Hossam Ashour, Abdallah El-Said, Saleh Gomaa, Ramadan Sobhy, Momen Zakaria

Strikers: Amr Gamal, Emad Meteb, Ahmed Abdel-Zaher, John Antwi, Malick Evouna