Ahly's fans (File photo: Ahram)
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has demanded that up to 30,000 fans be allowed to attend Thursday's African Super Cup game between Egypt’s Ahly and Tunisian side Sfaxien.
Champions League holders Ahly are set to host Sfaxien, who won the Confederation Cup, on 20 February in Cairo.
Egyptian authorities have recently announced that only 10,000 supporters will be allowed to attend the match due to security reasons; a decision that was opposed by Ahly.
Most football matches in Egypt have been played behind closed doors since the army ousted president Mohamed Morsi on 3 July following mass protests against his rule.
Egypt's interior minister allowed 10,000 of Zamalek supporters to attend the game against Niger's AS Douanes in the CAF Champions League preliminary round at Cairo stadium on 9 February.
The hardcore Zamalek fans lit some fireworks in the stands but the match was otherwise trouble-free.
"CAF sent us an official letter asking for an increase in the number of supporters who will attend the Super Cup to at least 30,000," Ahly said in a statement on their website on Saturday.
"The number allowed by authorities is not suitable for the event’s importance."
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