Treika-less Ahly out to maintain winning start in Champions League

Ahly face Ghana's Berekum Chelsea while Zamalek take on TP Mazembe of the DR Congo in the African Champions League on Saturday

Ahly will have to do without inspirational playmaker Mohamed Abou-Treika when they bid to maintain their winning start to their African Champions League group-stage campaign at the expense of Ghana's Berekum Chelsea on Saturday.
Earlier in the day, Ahly's arch-rivals Zamalek will be desperate to keep alive their hopes of reaching the semifinal when they face DR Congo's TP Mazembe in their first game under caretaker manager Ismail Youssef following the resignation of Hassan Shehata.
Abou-Treika was scheduled to return to Cairo to join up with Ahly after helping Egypt's U-23 team to a crucial 3-1 victory over Belarus which lifted them to the quarterfinals of the London Games.
However, Ahly eventually accepted a request from Egypt coach Hany Ramzy to allow the 33-year-old and teammates Emad Meteb and Ahmed Fathi, the over-age trio in the young Pharaohs' squad, to stay put.
“The club have agreed to let the three players remain with the Olympic team in London although we are in desperate need of their services in the important and difficult game against Chelsea,” Ahly said in a statement.
“However, Ahly decided to support the national team and act in its interest as usual,” the club added, before criticising Ramzy for picking the three over-age players from one team.
Egypt's quarter-final game against Japan is also on Saturday, nine hours before Ahly take on Chelsea.
The Red Devils have opened their Group B campaign in the best possible way, garnering maximum six points from two games after beating Mazembe 2-1 before claiming a narrow 1-0 win over Cairo foes Zamalek, thanks to a late header from Abou-Treika.
They will host Chelsea, who are second on four points, at Cairo's Military Academy Stadium behind closed doors due to ongoing security concerns in Egypt. Authorities have imposed a crowd ban since February's infamous Port Said disaster, which left dozens dead and hundreds injured.
“We have to get a good result; that is, either a win or draw. With that we will remain on course in the competition,” Chelsea coach Johannes van der Pluijm was quoted as saying on the Confederation of African Football (CAF) official website.
“We have been preparing very well for this game, immediately after the game with TP Mazembe. Each player is available as there are no injuries or suspensions. It is the biggest and the decisive game. The outcome will be critical in determining how far we can go in the competition. We have to go all out.”
Ahly will have to keep a close eye on Chelsea's in-form striker Emmanuel Clottey, who took the competition by storm.
The 24-year-old, who is reportedly targeted by Italy's AS Roma, has scored 11 Champions League goals so far this term, bringing him within touching distance of equalling Stephen Worghu's 13-goal haul in 2007.
Pointless Zamalek
Zamalek have no option but to overcome TP Mazembe away from home to stay afloat in Africa's premier club competition after making a disappointing start that saw them lose to Chelsea and Ahly.
It will be their first game following the departure of former Egypt boss Hassan Shehata, who left right after the White Knights extended their Cairo derby winless streak to 13 matches.
They are boosted by the return of Benin striker Razak Omotoyossi, who resolved his financial dispute with the club after going AWOL for around six weeks.
"I am ready for TP Mazembe clash and I promised coach Youssef to score a goal,” he was quoted as saying on Zamalek's official website.
Omotoyossi might partner Burkinabe striker Abdoulaye Cisse upfront after Amr Zaki was excluded for disciplinary reasons.
Mazembe lie third in the group with one point from two games, having lost to Ahly before drawing with Chelsea.
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