Veteran winger Walid Soliman became the third player in Ahly's African Champions League squad to test positive for COVID-19 on Sunday, just five days before an anticipated final against bitter Cairo rivals Zamalek.

The record eight-time African champions meet Zamalek in Cairo on Friday in the first ever Champions League final to feature teams from the same country.

Soliman, Ahly's top scorer in all competitions this season despite playing a bit-part role, said on his social media accounts that he and his son had tested positive for the highly-contagious virus. 

The 36-year-old scored twice in Ahly's 2-1 win over Abu Qir Fertilizers in the Egypt Cup quarters on Saturday, helping his side advance to the semis.  

He was also instrumental in Ahly's triumphant Egyptian Premier League campaign last season, having scored nine goals.

Soliman's infection brought coronavirus cases at the club to five, including three in Ahly's African roster. 

On Thursday, Ahly announced that winger Mahmoud Kahraba had returned a positive result before revealing that midfielder Saleh Gomaa had also contracted COVID-19 just a day later. 

Two other players who have just returned from loan spells, striker Ahmed Yasser and winger Mohamed Sherif, also tested positive. However, they are not eligible to play against Zamalek. 

The Red Devils started on Sunday a training camp for the Champions League final amid fears that more players could be infected in the next few days.

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