After the Confederation of African Football (CAF) closed the players' registration list late on Wednesday, Ahram Online combined the African squad of Egyptian Premier League giants Ahly and Zamalek ahead of their participation in the CAF Champions League. The Egyptian Premier League champions Ahly have signed three players during the ongoing summer transfer window including playmaker Mohamed Magdi, better known as Afsha coming from Pyramids FC, defender Mahmoud Metwalli who was signed from Ismaily and Malian attacking midfielder Aliou Dieng. Meanwhile, the leagues runners-up Zamalek also named all their newly signed players in the team's African squad including former full back Mohamed Abdel-Shafy, forward Karim Bambo who joined the team from Ismaily, Moroccan winger Achraf Bencharki and Moroccan winger Mohammed Ounajem. The next Champions League will be historic as an August-to-May season is introduced and the final is reduced from two legs to one match at a neutral venue. There will also be a record 14 previous winners involved, including eight-time trophy-holders Ahly of Egypt. The 2020 CAF Champions League preliminary round ties to kick off on 9 August as Ahly will face Atlabara FC of South Sudan while Zamalek will play Dekedaha FC of Somalia. Ahly 26-player African squad: Goalkeepers: Mohamed El-Shenawy, Ali Lotfi, Sherif Ekramy Defenders: Ramy Rabia, Mahmoud Metwali, Yasser Ibrahim, Ayman Ashraf, Mahmoud Wahid, Ali Maaloul, Ahmed Fathi, Mohamed Hany Midfielders: Aliou Dieng, Hamdi Fathi, Amr El-Sulaya, Hossam Ashour, Saleh Gomaa, Mohamed Magdy 'Afsha', Walid Soliman, Ahmed El-Sheikh, Hussein El-Shahat, Ramadan Sobhi, Geraldo da Costa, Junior Ajayi Strikers: Walid Azaro, Marwan Mohsen, Salah Mohsen Zamalek's 25-player African squad: Goalkeepers: Mohamed Awad, Mohamed Abo Gabal Defenders: Hazem Emam, Hamdi Nagguez, Mahmoud Alaa, Mohamed Abdel-Ghany, Mahmoud Hamdi 'El-Wensh', Mohamed Abdel-Salam, Mohamed Abdel-Shafy, Abdallah Gomaa Midfielders: Tarek Hamed, Ferjani Sassi, Mahmoud Abdel-Aziz, Mohamed Hassan, Yousef Ibrahim 'Obama', Achraf Bencharki, Mostafa Fathi, Ayman Hefny, Mohamed Antar, Ahmed Sayed 'Zizo', Karim Bambo, Mahmoud Abdel-Razek 'Shikabala' Strikers: Khaled Boutaib, Omar El-Said, Mostafa Mohamed (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)
