Elation for Simba and agony for Al Ahly ahead of the crucial first leg of the CAF Champions League.
It’s a big blow for Marcel Koller and Al Ahly who are likely to miss the all-action midfielder Emam Ashour in the first leg of the quarter-finals of the CAF Champions League set to be played at the Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Friday 29th March.
Egypt defeated New Zealand 1-0 in an international friendly game on Friday night through Mostapha Mohammed’s 39th-minute penalty. Emam Ashour started in Egypt’s 3 men’s midfield alongside Marwan.
Ateya and Afsha Magdi but the 26-year-old was replaced by Hamdi Fathi in the 26th minute after injuring his shoulder.
It is a huge setback for Al Ahly as Emam Ashour faces potential surgery after the clavicle injury sustained in the friendly game against New Zealand.
The Red Devils of Cairo travels to Tanzania in the CAF Champions League quarter-finals next week and it will be a big blow to Al Ahly because Ashour dominates games and has become one of the best players of Al Ahly.
Malien International Aliou Dieng is already missing games for Ahly due to an ankle injury.
The absence of these two midfielders will be a problem but Al Ahly still have Ateya, El Solia and Karim Nedved who are equally good to replace the missing duo.
Simba SC will host Al Ahly in Tanzania in the first leg of the CAF Champions League on Friday. The game is scheduled to kick off at 6 pm.
