AHLI (Egypt) vs. ORLANDO PIRATES (South Africa) Kickoff: 16.30 CLT CAF Champions League Group A Venue: Gouna Stadium, Hurghada MATCH FACTS -South African clubs have an awful away record vs. Egyptian teams...played 10, lost 8, drawn 2, won 0, scored 2. -Ahli have beaten all South African clubs they hosted in Egypt, Mamelodi Sundowns, Kaizer Chiefs, Ajax Cape Town, Platinum Stars and Supersport United. -Ahli's Mohamed Abou-Treika, Mohamed Barakat and Emad Meteb have scored 69 Champions League goals between them, only two less than the total number of goals Pirates had scored in their history in the competition.
Treika will be looking for goal number 30 in Africa -Only two players in both sides are over 35 years of age; team captains Wael Gomaa (38) and Lucky Lekgwathi (37). -Ahli have not failed to score in any match since Mohamed Youssef had been appointed manager back in May. QUOTES Ahli coach Mohamed Youssef "I told the players these circumstances (match during fasting) are obligatory and we have to deal with it. I told them we had difficult conditions last year and yet we won the Champions League. So we have to work under any condition. "Orlando is a very good team. They are the champions of South Africa and we respect them much and know they have some talented international players. But Ahli play every game just to win" Pirates coach Roger de Sa "I think the guys focus for this game has been phenomenal. The level of commitment and focus at training the last couple of days has been immense.
Pirates have skipper back "I think the players are ready for the battle in Egypt. It won't be easy of course but I think most of the guys understand what victory in Cairo will mean to them and to the supporters." TEAM NEWS Apart from long-term casualties Geddo and Emad Meteb, Ahli have a clean bill of health. Pirates also have an injury-free squad, with defense duo Lucky Lekgwathi - the team's influential captain - and Patrick Phungwayo returning from suspension. PLAYERS TO WATCH AHLI: News from the Reds camp suggest that Dominique da Silva could be Youssef's wild card against Pirates. PIRATES: Should he start, burly Zambian forward Collins Mbesuma will be a handful for Ahli's defense.
