Left-back Sayed Moawad has been ruled out of Ahly’s anticipated clash against Esperance in the African Champions League final second-leg, the club doctor said on Friday.

“Moawad will begin tomorrow an intensive rehabilitation program after scans showed that he is suffering from a knee tendon inflammation that will probably rule him out of the Esperance tie,” doctor Ehab Ali said on the club’s official website.

“Even if he recovered in time for the game, he would not be physically ready to play,” he added.

Moawad, 33, has been a key member of Ahly’s squad since joining in 2008 after ending a highly-successful spell with the Red Devils’ bitter rivals Ismaily.

The diminutive winger is known for his penetration runs down the left flank and his pinpoint crosses.

He was replaced by the more defensive-minded Sherif Abdel-Fadil in the first leg as Ahly were held to a 1-1 draw by a resolute Esperance side in Alexandria. The second leg will take place in Tunis on 17 November.

(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports)