Al Ahly is preparing for a decisive clash against South Africa's Sundowns in the second leg of the CAF Champions League semi-final, which will take place at Cairo International Stadium. Al Ahly aims to secure victory by any result to guarantee qualification for the final, especially after the first leg in South Africa ended in a goalless draw. The Red Devils know that an away goal would favor Sundowns, while a goalless draw would lead to penalty kicks according to the competition's rules.
Al Ahly is counting on the experience of its players in major matches, especially those who have previously won the African title, such as Mohamed El Shenawy, Amr El Solia, and Hamdy Fathy, alongside the attacking abilities of players like Hussein El Shahat, Mahmoud Kahraba, and Percy Tau. Coach Marcel Koller hopes to leverage the home advantage and the support of the fans to achieve dominance from the first minute.
On the other hand, Sundowns enters the match with confidence, benefiting from the first-leg result and their strong defensive performance, relying on the skills of players such as Themba Zwane and Ronaldo Maçaya. The South African team aims to cause an upset in Cairo and avenge previous eliminations by Al Ahly.
The match is scheduled for today, Friday, at 7:00 PM Cairo time, and it will be broadcast live on beIN Sports HD 6, part of the beIN Sports network, which holds the exclusive rights to broadcast the CAF Champions League.
Red Devils fans will play a major role in motivating the team, with a large crowd expected at Cairo International Stadium to support the players throughout the match. The club's management is also working to boost the team's morale by promising financial incentives if they qualify.
Refereeing will be an important factor in this encounter, with an international officiating team appointed for the match to ensure fairness. The game is expected to be a highly competitive one, with both teams vying for a spot in the final, where the winner will face the victor of the Pyramids vs. Orlando Pirates match.
