Keeper El-Shennawy ready to boost Ahly in Champions League final

Ahmed Abd El Rasoul , Sunday 28 May 2023

Ahly’s skipper and goalkeeper Mohamed El-Shennawy has been cleared for the anticipated Champions League final against Morocco's Wydad Casablanca, the club announced via twitter early on Sunday.

El-Shennawy
Ahly s skipper and goalkeepers Mohamed El-Shennawy

 

Shennawy's return is a huge boost for the Cairo giants, who were facing a goalkeeping crisis ahead of the two-match final of the prestigious continental competition.

Ahly will host the first leg in Cairo on 4 June, while the second leg will be played in Morocco a week later.

The 34-year-old first-choice goalkeeper, who has kept a clean sheet in 24 of 36 matches in all competitions this season, suffered a calf injury that kept him out of action in the semi-final second leg against Esperance of Tunisia. El-Shennawy, who has already served a three-match domestic suspension, missed the last two league matches against Ennpi and Talae El-Geish.

In addition, the team's second-choice goalkeeper Ali Lotfi suffered a muscle injury in his thigh during Tuesday's 2-0 win over Enppi, which will keep him out of action for up to 10 days and puts his availability for the Wydad match in doubt.

Moreover, third-choice goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir suffered a knock to the face in Thursday's 2-0 win over El-Geish, while young fourth-choice goalkeeper Hamza Alaa is already out of action due to a cartilage injury in his knee.

Ahly secured their fourth consecutive appearance in the final after a 1-0 win over Esperance of Tunisia at the Cairo International Stadium on Friday with a commanding 4-0 win on aggregate.

By reaching their 16th final, Ahly remain on course to claim a record-breaking 11th Champions League title.

Defending champions Wydad, who edged out South Africa's Mamelodi Sundowns on the away goal rule after a 2-2 draw in the semi-finals, will face Ahly in a repeat of the 2022 final, which Wydad won 2-0 in Rabat.

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

Short link: