Dominique Da Silva of Egypt's Ahly (Photo: Ruters)
Ahly coach Hossam El-Badry has said he was testing African players in hopes of signing one of them during the current summer transfer window with the aim of bolstering his team's frontline before the new season begins.
El-Badry dismissed reports that he was working to offload Mauritanian striker Dominique Da Silva so as to free up a place in the team's squad for another foreign player.
"We won't sell Dominique, since the team requires his services for upcoming games," El-Badry told Egyptian state-run news agency MENA.
"If we succeed in signing a new foreign player, I'll release one of three players we have in the squad," he added.
Ahly, six-time African champions, are scheduled to face DR Congo's TP Mazembe on the 5th match-day of the CAF Champions League Group stage next Sunday.
"I'm not worried about the players suspended for the Mazembe game, as the team has more replacements," said El-Badry.
The Cairo giants will have to do without left winger Sayed Mowad and midfielder Mohamed Barakat, both of whom received second yellow cards in last week's 1-1 draw with Ghanaian Chelsea.
Ahly are currently leading group B with ten points, three ahead of TP Mazembe, while Ghanaian side Chelsea has placed third in the group with five points. Ahly needs only one point from the next two matches to qualify for the semi-finals.
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