The head coach of Al Ahly, Pitso Mosimane has said playing Al Hilal away in Sudan will not be an easy task.
Al Ahly will face the Sudan Premier League side Al Hilal in their first Group A match of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League. The match will take place on February 18th at the renovated Al Hilal Stadium in Khartoum.
Fresh from finishing third at the FIFA Club World Cup in Abua Dhabi few days ago, the reigning African champions will be all out to try and make a perfect start.
“We know playing in Sudan is never easy, but we have prepared well and we shall be all out to get and get maximum points. Yes although facing Al Hilal in Sudan is tricky and never easy, we know what is at stake,” added Mosimane.
South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns who face Al Merreikh this weekend in Cairo currently lead Group A standing after their narrow 1-0 win against Al Hilal last weekend.
The Red Eagles team landed in Khartoum on Wednesday ahead of the match on Friday.
But Al Hilal coach Joao Mota has also made it clear that after losing their opening Group A match, they will have to be at their best to be able to get a positive result. “Yes we respect Al Ahly because they have won the Champions League trophy several times, but we know this match is very important for us,” added Mota.
Al Ahly squad
Ali Lotfy, Moustafa Shobier, Hamza Alaa, Ramy Rabia, Yasser Ibrahim, Mohamed Abdelmonem, Mohamed Hany, Karim Fouad, Ali Maaloul, Mahmoud Wahid, Amr El Soulia, Mohamed Mahmoud, Hamdy Fathy, Aliou Dieng, Mohamed Magdy, Hussien El Shahat, Luis Miquissone, Mohamed Sherif, Taher Mohamed Taher, Ahmed Abdelkader, Hossam Hassan