Ahly have reached Zambia after a near 12-hour flight as they gear up for the Confederation Cup group stage clash with Nkana on Saturday.

Interspersed in the trip was a two-hour transit stop in South Africa before the team reached the airport in Zambia's capital city of Lusaka, where the contingent took a bus to Ketwe, which will host the match.

Upon arrival to their hotel, Ahly boss Juan Carlos Garrido refused to allow his players sleep after the tiring flight, resuming light training to adjust to the time difference between Egypt and Zambia.

Spaniard manager Garrido had previously stated that Nkana would be no pushover, after they managed to beat Tunisia's Etoile du Sahel in a previous game.

With just two matches to go, a win for the Zambian champions — who are currently third in Group B — would mean they are still in contention for a semi-final spot, while leaders Ahly only need a draw to march through.

Eight-time African champions Ahly, who were ousted from the Champions League last 16 by Libya's Ahly Benghazi, are seeking their first ever Confederation Cup title.

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