Al-Ahly SC on Wednesday selected the squad for the showdown with Cameroon’s Coton Sport De Garoua on 5 October in the semi-final of the African Champions League.
The Egyptian side is hoping to secure its tenth African Champions league final in this year’s campaign, with the second leg slated to be held in Cairo on 20 October.
Coach Mohamed Youssef picked the squad with two notable absentees: strikers Emad Moteab and Omar Gamal.
The Red Devils squad will include Sherif Ekramy in goal, with Ahmed Fathi, Sherif Abdel Fadil, Mohamed Naguib and Sayed Moawed as the back four defenders. Veteran star Mohamed Abuotrika will start in front of young Ramy Rabiea and Hossam Ashour, who are expected to play in midfield positions. In form, Walid Soliman and Abdallah Al-Said will play in their usual attacking midfielder spots with Ahmed Abdel Zahir playing as a sole striker.
The Cameroonian outfit’s best African finish was reaching the final of the CAF Champions League in 2008, to which they lost to Al-Ahly 2-0 in Egypt, and drew 2-2 in Cameroon.
Al-Ahly finished top of group A during the group stages with three wins against the Orlando Pirates, Zamalek SC and Congo Leopards, two draws and one loss. Coton Sport finished second in group B with two wins, two losses and two draws.
Orlando Pirates finished runners up to group A and are set to play Espérance Sportive de Tunis, who finished top of their group.
