Abdallah El Said of Egypt's Al Ahly (2nd R) celebrates a goal with team mates during their CAF Champions League soccer match against Morocco's Moghreb Tetouan at Petro Sport stadium in Cairo, May 2, 2015 (Photo: Reuters)
After their elimination from the CAF Champions League, Ahly will host Tunisian side Club Africain in the CAF Confederation Cup round of 16 on Sunday at 7pm Cairo local time (GMT+2) at New Suez Stadium.
Ahly will face a tough test against the Tunisian side as the Cairo giants are missing a number of key players due to injuries.
The CAF Confederation Cup title-holders will have to do without a host of key figures such as forwards Walid Soliman and Momen Zakaria, rising winger Mohamed Hani, and midfielder Hossam Ashour, who have been ruled out due to injuries. Right-back Bassem Ali will also miss the game due to a suspension.
"We are trying to find tactical solutions. I will have to shuffle the team and maybe use some players in different positions to their natural roles to fill the gaps," Ahly coach Fathi Mabrouk was quoted as saying on the club's official website.
Ahly caretaker coach Fathi Mabrouk, who replaced axed Spanish tactician Garrido last month, has revealed his concerns ahead of the team's Club Africain game.
"The Club Africain game will be difficult as the Tunisian side have a lot of talented players who can make the difference," Mabrouk said.
The real challenge for the recently appointed coach will be to find a right-back, as his regular options Ali and Hani are out. Sherif Abdel-Fadil, who had just returned after a lengthy recovery from injury, could be his only way out, as the former Egypt international had already played in that position several times.
"I faced the same situation when I was in charge of the team last season, when I succeeded to lead the team and overcame the lack of players," the Ahly concluded.
It's the first time for the two sides Ahly and Club Africain to play each other in the continental championships as the duo met only two times in Arab tournaments that finished with goalless draw and 4-1 win for the Tunisian side respectively.
Club Africain's game will be the first game for new appointed coach Mabrouk with Ahly in the African championships so he will work hard to continue in his winning ways he started with the team in the Egyptian Premier League.
Mabrouk has led Ahly to victory in all games in the Premier League since his arrival, and will be working on maintaining the players' winning spirit when they take on Club Africain on Sunday.
The Tunisian side, the winners of the CAF Champions League title in 1991, will face Ahly in a good psychological condition after they defeated arch-rivals Esperance 1-0 in the Tunisian league derby last week.
"We have to forget the derby result and concentrate on the African championship," Club Africain midfielder TIjani Belaid told reporters when he arrived at Cairo airport.
"Ahly will continue to be a great team despite recent poor results in the CAF Champions League and Egyptian league, as they have a big number of trophies in their belt."
"We came here to achieve a positive result in Cairo to ease the way in the second leg in Tunisia," the Club Africain midfielder said.
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