Four new arrivals, including Ghanaian striker John Antwi and Gabon's frontman Malick Evouna, were included in Ahly's squad for Saturday's African Confederation Cup game away to Tunisian side Etoile Sahel. The other two who may make their debut are midfielder Saleh Gomaa, who arrived from ENPPI after spending the last season on loan at Portugal's Nacional, and versatile midfielder Ahmed Fathi who re-joined the club after a one-year spell with Qatar's Umm Salal. Ahly spent heavily in the close season to bolster their squad after missing out on the chance of equaling their own record of winning the Egyptian Premier League nine straight times, with arch-rivals Zamalek clinching the title for the first time since 2004. The Red Devils' spending included paying an Egyptian record fee of $2.5 million to sign Evouna from Morocco's Wydad Casablanca on a three-year contract. Ahly are pinning high hopes on burly strikers Antwi, who joined from Saudi Arabia's Shabab, and Evouna to improve their efficiency upfront after struggling in the final third last season, with the likes of veteran frontman Emad Meteb, Nigerian Peter Ebimobowei and Ethiopian Saladin Said failing to impress. The defending champions are in pole position to reach the Confederation Cup semi-finals after collecting seven points from their first three matches. They are on top of Group A, one point ahead of Etoile whom they defeated 1-0 in Suez last month, thanks to a first-half goal from winger Walid Soliman. Stade Malien are third on four points while Tunisia's Esperance lie at the bottom after failing to garner a single point. (For more sports news andupdates, followAhramOnlineSportson Twitter at@AO_Sportsand onFacebookatAhramOnlineSports.) http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/137073.aspx
