Egypt's Ahly will lose the services of a number of key players when they start defending their CAF Champions League titleafter midfielder Amr El-Sulaya, winger Mohamed Magdi 'Afsha'and defender Rami Rabia tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of their Niger trip.

Ahly will kick off their African Champions League campaign when they face AS SONIDEP in the first leg of the CAF Champions League’s second preliminary round on 23 December away from home.

The Cairo giants will also fly to Niger without the team's South African coach PitsoMosimane after he contracted coronavirus, which forced him to stay out of the Reds' previous league game against Ghazl El-Mahalla last week.

COVID-19 invaded Ahly’s squad last month ahead of the CAF Champions League final game against Zamalek, and the Red Devils missed the services of three of the team's key players: influential Malian midfielder Aliou Dieng, veteran winger Walid Solimanand midfielder Saleh Gomaa.

Ahly enjoyed a dream campaign last term after winning their third treble in history, which included a victory over Zamalek in the African Champions League final, the Egyptian Premier League title and the Egypt Cup.

The Red Devils are in the driving seat of the Egyptian Premier League table with six points after claiming two victories so far this season.

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