Al Ahly assistant coach: Return game against Jifar will be difficult

Al Ahly player Salah Mohsen celebrates after he scored the third goal against Horoya AC during the 2018 CAF Champions league game between Al Ahly and Horoya AC at Al Salam Stadium in Cairo, Egypt on 22 September 2018.

by Graeme Jackson

Thursday Dec 20, 2018. 12:00

Mohamed Youssef says trip to Ethiopia is set to be challenging.

Al Ahly assistant coach Mohamed Youssef says their return game against Jimma Aba Jifar in the CAF Champions League will be a difficult one.

The Egyptian giants will head to East Africa for the return leg of their first round tie on Friday, with a 2-0 advantage from the first game in Alexandria last weekend.

Despite the healthy lead, the Red Devils will be taking nothing for granted.

"The return match against Jifar will be a difficult one," Youssef was quoted as saying by Ahly's official website.

"We are looking forward achieving a positive result in the return match to continue our campaign successfully.”

He added, "The match in Ethiopia is of the same importance as the first one in Alexandria. It will be like a second half of one game.

"The technical staff have confidence in our players' ability to achieve a good result; that will guide the team to the group stage.

“Our recent victories in the domestic league, besides restoring confidence, both raised the players' motivations to continue the fine run at the continental level," Youssef concluded.

Ahly sealed their fourth straight league win earlier this week, defeating Nogoum FC 2-0 to sit fifth in the Egyptian Premier League table with 23 points – 12 behind leaders and arch-rivals Zamalek, who have played three more matches.

The club’s management have also announced the recruitment of Uruguayan tactician Martin Lasarte on a one-and-a-half-year contract. He will replace Patrice Carteron after the Frenchman was sacked in November.