Al Ahly v Esperance | CAF champions League Final | 1st leg | Match Preview
Al Ahly will take on Tunisian side Esperance on Friday at Alexandria’s Borg El-Arab stadium in the first leg of the continental prestigious tournament, while the second leg is set to be played a week later in Rades, Tunis on 9 November.
42,000 of Al Ahly supporters would be allowed to attend the African Champions League final in Alexandria’s 86,000-seat Borg El-Arab Stadium.
Al Ahly said that they are still in talks with security officials to increase the number of fans to 60,000.
Goalkeeper Mohamed El-Shennawi was cleared fit for the game after recovering from the injury he had picked up during Ahlys match against Al-Wasl in the Arab Club Champions Cup on Sunday.
Key striker Walid Azaro as well as veteran right-back Ahmed Fathi were also named in the squad to boost the Reds’ chances in the final of the flagship African competition.
However, the Cairo giants will miss both left-back Ali Maaloul and striker Junior Ajayi due to long-term injury.
Meanwhile, winger Moamen Zakaria and midfielder Nasser Maher remain out of the team’s lineup for technical reasons.
Ahly have reached their second in a row CAF Champions League final after the record eight-time winners defeated Algeria’s ES Setif 3-2 on aggregate earlier this month.
A Word from Al Ahly’s Coach:
“I consider the two legs of the final as one game of 180 minutes,” the coach said in a press conference on Wednesday.
“I don’t think of playing the home match and then the away one in Rades separately. I only think that we will play 180 minutes in the African final.” the Ahly coach explained.
“I have confidence in my players’ determination to deliver their best in the two matches,” he added.
Al Ahly squad:
Keepers: Sherif Ekramy Mohamed El-Shennawi Aly Lotfy
Defenders: Ahmed Fathi Mohamed Hany – Salif Coulibaly Saad Samir Ayman Ashraf Sabry Raheel
Midfielders: Hossam Ashour Amr Elsolia Hesham Mohamed Akram Tawfeek Karim Nedved Islam Mohareb Ahmed Hamoudy Waild Soliman Ahmed Hamdy Mido Gaber
Forwards: Salah Mohsen Marwan Mohsen Walid Azaro
The eight-time African champions Al Ahly are eyeing their first Champions League title since 2013.
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