Ahly face tough test against Tunisia champs

by Stephane DeSaintsalvy

Thursday Jun 04, 2015. 15:33

Title holders Ahly are travelling to Tunis, where they will face Club Africain in the second leg of their Confederation Cup playoffs tie on Sunday.

The Cairo giants came from behind to secure a narrow 2-1 victory in Suez in the first leg, thanks to goals from Ahmed Abdel-Zaher and Emad Meteb either side of half-time after Imed Minieoui had given the visitors the lead with a 36^th minute opener.

READ: Al Ahly clinch victory over Club Africain

However, the ‘Clubistes’ will be confident of turning the tables in front of their home crowd and extend their great run of form after being crowned Tunisian champions on Tuesday.

But Ahly, too, received a double boost ahead of their continental trip, defeating Dakhlya 2-0 in the Egyptian Premier League to narrow the gap to nine points from leaders Zamalek on Monday, and welcoming back to the squad left-back Hussein El-Sayed and striker Amr Gamal.

El-Sayed had been side-lined for a month with a shoulder injury, while Gamal had been out of action since October last year after rupturing a cruciate knee ligament.

It is great news for coach Fathi Mabrouk, who is still sweating over the fitness of Moemen Zakareya, Mahmoud Hassan ‘Trezeguet’, Hossam Ashour and Ahmed Abdel-Zaher.

Meanwhile, Club Africain will have to do without left-back Oussama Haddadi, who also suffered a serious injury on his cruciate knee ligaments.

The game will kick off at Stade de Radès at 19h00 CAT on Sunday.