Ahly-Zamalek African tie left in limbo

Hosts Ahly are yet to receive security clearance to play their African Champions League match against Zamalek on 15 September

Ahly's preparations for next week's African Champions League clash against Zamalek are in limbo as the club has failed to secure a venue for the highly anticipated tie on 15 September.
"We have asked to play at Borg El-Arab or Difaa El-Gawi stadiums but we haven't received an answer from the security authorities. If we don't secure permission, we will talk to the management of Gouna stadium," read a statement on the club's official website on Friday.
Ahly have requested permission to play at these stadiums to avoid playing during daylight hours. However, security forces have declined previous requests because of the country's difficult security situation and to avoid confrontations with the clubs' hardcore fans who will be seeking to attend the game.
It is expected that Ahly will have to turn to their final option: Gouna stadium, which does not have floodlights.
The Red Devils are expected to face some resistance from the management of the Red Sea-located stadium as the team's supporters clashed with each other and used fireworks extensively during the AC Leopards game on 31 August.
"We are done, we won't host any more games for Ahly and Zamalek after these incidents," said Ahmed El-Sehefy, a Gouna board member, after the game.
Ahly, who have seven points after four rounds, need to beat arch-rivals Zamalek to secure their passage to the semi-finals of Africa's elite competition.
"How do you expect us to focus and win in these circumstances? We are training in very hard conditions and we don't even know where or when the game is going to be played," Ahly's flamboyant winger Walid Soliman said at a previous stage.
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