Football | CAF Champions League
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On Sunday, at the Arab Contractors Stadium in Cairo, the curtains for the 2013 Orange CAF Champions League will be drawn up with both Ahly and Pirates chasing a piece of history and also writing it their own way. Kickoff is at 6pm.
Unarguably the biggest game on the African club football calendar, Ahly will be seeking for their first back-to-back titles since 2005 and 2006, while Pirates are in the decider for the first time after their only triumph in 1995.
The stakes are high after the first leg last weekend ended one-all with the South Africans snatching a last-gasp equaliser through Thabo Matlaba, canceling out Mohamed Aboutreika’s first half goal.
It will be the fourth meeting between the two sides this season, with the visitors the better, thanks to a 3-0 win over their hosts at the group phase at the Red Sea resort of El Gouna.
Ahly have since recovered from that slip, coughing up an unbeaten spell in the remaining games on their way to the final. Experience-wise, the Cairo-based club are favourites, with veterans such as Aboutreika, Wael Gomaa, Ahmed Fathy, Sherif Ekramy among others inspiring their journey thus far.
However, the Buccaneers are probably most improved side in the campaign with a blend of youth and experience with players such as Andile Jali, Daine Klate, goalkeeper Senyo Meyiwa and Tlou Segolela earning rave reviews locally and outside.
The Red Devils have an enviable record with just two losses at the final
in their history in the premier continental championship, against
Asante Kotoko in 1983 and Tunisian side, Etoile du Sahel, 3-1 on
aggregate in 2007. Also, the game presents them a perfect opportunity to
give their fans some cause to cheer in the wake of the political
tension in the country.
Head coach Mohamed Youssef, who deputized for Hossam Al-Badri in last year’s triumph insists his charges are fired up for the encounter which he has tagged “the most important of my coaching career.” So important is the game that, Ahly legend Mahmoud Al-Khatib ‘Bibo’ and now Vice President of the club, has cut short his rehabilitation in Germany to support their bid for the title.
Youssef, a member of the Ahly squad that won the defunct CAF Cup Winners’ Cup in 1993, is seeking to join a rare breed of coaches to have won a continental club title as a player and coach.
Ahly have been boosted by the return to fitness of influential quartet – Aboutreika, Fathy, Walid Soliman and Emad Moteab for the tie.
“We are confident of pulling through in Cairo. The goal was important and with the backing at home, we should start the final 90 minutes as favourites. We will definitely do better’ Youssef remarked after the first leg in Johannesburg.
It is however bad news for Pirates as regular duo, Jali and Happy Jele are suspended for the most important game of their campaign. However, head coach Roger De Sa is convinced he has a strong back-up to make up for the absence of the two players and claim the title as well.
“It’s going to be very difficult. There’s no doubt about it, but we will go there to win and we have the character to turn it around,” said De Sa.
The winner of the tie will pocket $1.5 million and also represent the continent at the Fifa Club World Cup in Morocco in December.
Source: cafonline.com
Head coach Mohamed Youssef, who deputized for Hossam Al-Badri in last year’s triumph insists his charges are fired up for the encounter which he has tagged “the most important of my coaching career.” So important is the game that, Ahly legend Mahmoud Al-Khatib ‘Bibo’ and now Vice President of the club, has cut short his rehabilitation in Germany to support their bid for the title.
Youssef, a member of the Ahly squad that won the defunct CAF Cup Winners’ Cup in 1993, is seeking to join a rare breed of coaches to have won a continental club title as a player and coach.
Ahly have been boosted by the return to fitness of influential quartet – Aboutreika, Fathy, Walid Soliman and Emad Moteab for the tie.
“We are confident of pulling through in Cairo. The goal was important and with the backing at home, we should start the final 90 minutes as favourites. We will definitely do better’ Youssef remarked after the first leg in Johannesburg.
It is however bad news for Pirates as regular duo, Jali and Happy Jele are suspended for the most important game of their campaign. However, head coach Roger De Sa is convinced he has a strong back-up to make up for the absence of the two players and claim the title as well.
“It’s going to be very difficult. There’s no doubt about it, but we will go there to win and we have the character to turn it around,” said De Sa.
The winner of the tie will pocket $1.5 million and also represent the continent at the Fifa Club World Cup in Morocco in December.
Source: cafonline.com
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