El-Badry: Al Ahly needs defenders to win CAF Cahmapions League

by Phumzile Ngcatshe

Friday Mar 23, 2018. 15:00

Al Ahly coach Hissam El-Badry said they need to reinforce their defence if they want to win the CAF Champions League.

The Red Devils manager revealed they will hire a good defender, saying he has already started negotiations with the club to find suitable players.

This comes after Ahly suffered defensive problems with several injuries taking toll on their rear guard.

Ahly recently won their 40th Egyptian Premier League title and their third in a row to confirm their superiority on the domestic level.

However, their last Champions League title glory was in 2013 when they lifted their eighth trophy.

They were close to winning the continental title last year, but lost in the final 2-1 on aggregate to Moroccan side Wydad de Casablanca.

"We will hire a good defender in the summer transfer window to help the team in the Champions League group stages," El-Badri told the club's official website.

Ahly reached the Champions League group stages after defeating Gabonese side Mounana 7-1 on aggregate on Saturday.

"There are many discussions with the club management to choose the best players before opening negotiations with their clubs,'' El-Badri said.

However, the 58-year-old coach revealed that Nasser Maher, who was loaned to Smouha, would return to the club next summer.

He also confirmed that it is likely that one of Ahly loanees in the Saudi Arabian League will return to the club in the summer.

Saleh Gomaa, Ahmed El-Sheikh, Hussein El-Sayed, Amr Barakat, Emad Metab and Moemen Zakareya are all plying their trade at different Saudi clubs.

"We are monitoring all our loanees in Egypt and in the Saudi League," said the coach.

Al Ahly were drawn in Group A of the Champions League alongside Esperance, KCCA and Township Rollers.