Ahly welcome back the return of the team's international players after their participation in the African 2022 World Cup qualifiers. Tunisian left back Ali Maaloul, Moroccan defender Badr Benoun, Malian midfielder Aliou Dieng, Mozambican winger Luis Miquissone, and South African forward Percy Tau arrived in Cairo on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Egyptian international players, including keeper Mohamed El-Shennawy and forwards Mohamed Sherif, Mohamed 'Afsha' Magdi, midfielder Amr El-Sulaya, and right back Akram Tawfik joined the team's trainings for the game against Arab Contractors after finishing their national team duty in the World Cup qualifiers.

The international players underwent a recovery training in the club's gym to beat fatigue then they joined the trainings after attending a tactical lecture with the team's coach Pitso Mosimane.

"We still have a long way to go. We expect a tough competition... all teams will be motivated to win," Mosimane told reporters.

Ahly claimed three wins out of three league games this season, including the big victory 5-3 over title holders Zamalek, moving level on nine points with Pyramids FC, the only other team to bag maximum points.

"We got a good result, my players played with good spirit, we were tactically clever and we were a little bit smarter. We could find holes to move the ball inside," Mosimane said.

"We scored five goals in a big game. I'm very happy with that," the South African coach added.

Arab Contractors are ninth in the table with four points, as they opened the Egyptian Premier League's new season campaign with 1-0 victory over Eastern Company, 2-3 loss to Enppi and drew 1-1 with Egyptian Super Cup winners Talae El-Geish.

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