Ahly vs. Young Africans in CAF Champions League. Photo: the club's official website
The 12-time African champions sit comfortably atop Group B on eight points, three clear of second-placed Young Africans of Tanzania, who are level on points with Morocco’s FAR Rabat.
A positive result in Algeria would all but guarantee Ahly's progression to the knockout stage.
The Cairo-based giants will be seeking to bounce back after drawing their last two games, a continental stalemate against Young Africans and a domestic 1-1 draw with NBE Club in the Egyptian Premier League, a result that saw the holders slip to fourth spot in the domestic league standings.
Ahly will have to do without suspended midfielder Emam Ashour, who received an EGP 1.5 million fine and a two-week disciplinary ban after failing to travel with the squad for the previous Champions League fixture despite being named in the selection.
Adding to the selection headaches for Ahly’s Danish coach Jess Thorup, influential winger Ahmed ‘Zizo’ Sayed will also miss the trip due to a hamstring strain.
“I’m sad about Zizo’s injury and losing an influential player like him. I wish him a speedy recovery and a quick return in even better shape,” Thorup told the pre-match press conference on Friday.
The 55-year-old coach warned of a congested schedule, adding, “I’m looking forward to the JS Kabylie match given the tight schedule and congested fixtures at the moment. Ahly players spend more time on flights than they do in their homes.”
The Danish tactician confirmed the remainder of his squad is fit and ready. “All the players are fully fit and ready for the match,” he added.
Meanwhile, Ahly skipper Mohamed El-Shenawy acknowledged the difficulty of the upcoming match, stating that games at this stage of the competition are always demanding, especially against opponents playing at home.
“All games in the group stage are challenging, and there are no easy matches, particularly when facing JS Kabylie on their ground and in front of their supporters,” he said.
The 37-year-old Egyptian international goalkeeper also expressed respect for JS Kabylie, emphasizing that their current tally of two points does not reflect their true strength, stressing that the Algerian side still has a chance to keep their qualification hopes alive with a victory.
For JS Kabylie, the situation is dire as they sit at the bottom of the group with just two points and virtually no margin for error.
The Algerian side will be out for vengeance after their 4-1 defeat to Ahly in the reverse fixture on 22 November.
Facing the group leaders at home represents a final lifeline to snatch crucial points and prolong the group stage drama.
To achieve a positive result against the African powerhouse, they will require maximum commitment, unwavering discipline, and the full-throated support of their fans for the entire 90 minutes.
(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)
Short link: