22:00 Cairo local time | 15:00 Cairo Local Time
Venue: Stade Mohamed V (Casablanca)
Referee: Ibrahim Mutaz
First leg result: Ahly 2-0 Raja
Al Ahly, despite having a 2-0 advantage in the first leg in Cairo, must obtain a favorable outcome to advance to the semifinals and maintain their pursuit of a record-breaking 11th championship title.
In the first leg, Ahly’s defender Mohamed Abdel-Moneim and midfielder Hamdy Fathy scored, giving Ahly an advantageous position for progression.
Nevertheless, the upcoming game in Casablanca is anticipated to be a formidable hurdle for Ahly, who barely advanced to the quarterfinals after encountering a fright in the group stage and needing to wait until their final match to qualify.
During the group stage, the Moroccan giants were the most exceptional performers, scoring 17 goals, the highest in that stage, and amassing 16 points out of 18, effortlessly leading their group.
Amr El Sulaya, Ahly’s veteran midfielder, will be absent from the squad due to a muscle injury sustained during the first leg.
Rami Rabia, along with right backs Akram Tawfik and Karim Fouad, will continue their recovery program and won’t be included in the Cairo giants’ squad. However, Ahly’s doctor Ahmed Abou-Abla stated that the remainder of the squad is available and undergoing frequent medical evaluations to prevent exhaustion.
Coach Koller should exercise caution regarding Raja’s offensive line, particularly Hamza Khabba, who is the team’s top scorer in the continental tournament with five goals in seven appearances.
Raja coach Mondher ElKbaeir is expected to feature Naoufel Zerhouni, a newly signed striker who delivered an impressive performance during the last 15 minutes of the first leg in Cairo, in the team’s starting lineup against Ahly.
