LIVE: Al-Hilal v Al Ahly

Game K.O. 15:00 Cairo local time | 8:00 ET Canada-USA

Referee: Redouane Jiyed (Morocco)
Venue: Blue Jewel Stadium (Omdurman)

Titleholders Ahly will play their first game in the African Champions League group stage in Sudan against Al-Hilal today behind closed doors due to security fears.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) decided on Wednesday to ban fans from attending the Ahly-Al-Hilal game at the Blue Jewel Stadium, after giving an earlier decision allowing 15,000 fans to attend the Friday clash.

CAF didn’t reveal in its letter to the Sudanese club the reasons behind the ban, but it was reported that it became because of fears related to security and safety.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIbciwDziyE?feature=oembed

The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) thanked the CAF for protecting Ahly’s mission to Sudan. However, the decision angered Al-Hilal officials, who claimed that the CAF does not care about the Sudanese Football Association.

Ahly will be opening their group stage matches by facing Al-Hilal, as the Reds’ first game against the other Sudanese side in the group Al-Merrikh was postponed owing to Ahly’s participation at the FIFA Club World Cup.

The Reds will still be missing their skipper and main pillar goalie Mohamed Al-Shennawi, who was injured during Egypt’s game against Cote d’Ivoire in the round of 16 of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, which ended earlier this month.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfmcMV6aEBo?feature=oembed

Meanwhile, 23-year-old striker Hossam Hassan was included on the team’s squad list traveling to Sudan after the player recovered from an injury he had picked in the EFA Cup.

The team’s 57-year-old South African coach Pitso Mosimane, who helped the Reds to win two African Champions League titles in row, revealed that the team focusing all their concentration to win their first group stage game against Al-Hilal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSSZxL8Gu4k?feature=oembed

Starting line-up:

Ahly: Ali Lotfi, Mohamed Hani, Mohamed Abdel-Moneim, Yasser Ibrahim, Ali Maaloul, Hamdi Fathi, Aliou Dieng, Amr El-Sulaya, Ahmed Abdel-Kader, Taher Mohamed Taher, Mohamed Sherif

LIVE: Al-Hilal v Al Ahly | CAF Champions League

15:00 Cairo local time | 8:00 ET Canada-USA