Egypt's Ahly will face Jordan's Al-Faisaly in the Arab Club Championship opener on 21 July, while Zamalek will kick off their campaign two days later against Morocco's FUS Rabat, according to the tournament's schedule announced by the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) on Wednesday. Cairo and Alexandria will host the Arab Championship from 21 July to 5 August. One-time winners Ahly were placed in Group A along with Jordan's Al-Faisaly, Algeria's NA Hussein Dey and the UAE's Al-Wahda. Ahly will play their first match against Al-Faisaly in the opening day before taking on Al-Wahda four days later and they will end the first round by facing NA Hussein Dey on 28 July. Their Cairo rivals Zamalek, who also lifted the trophy once, were drawn in Group B along with Morocco's FUS Rabat, Saudi Arabia's Al-Nassr and Al-Ahed of Lebanon. They will play their opening match against FUS Rabat on 23 July before facing Al-Ahed three days later and will conclude the group stage against Al-Nassr on the 29th of the same month. Tunisian side Esperance, Saudi giants Al-Hilal, Sudan's Al-Merreikh and Naft Al-Wasat of Iraq comprise Group C. Algeria's USM Alger clinched the last Arab tournament's title in 2013. Ahly were crowned champions in 1996 when they defeated Morocco's Raja Casablanca 3-1 in Cairo, while Zamalek claimed their maiden title in 2003 at the expense of Kuwait club, also in Cairo. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)
