JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia, May 24, 2018 (News Wires) - Lebanese side Al Nejmeh have managed to qualify for the Arab Club Championship first round after beating Tunisian side Club Africain late on Wednesday. Al Nejmeh were placed in group A of the playoffs alongside Saudi Arabia's Al-Faisaly, ASAC Concorde of Mauritania, and Club Africain, and they have won all of their three games. They beat ASAC Concorde 4-0, before overcoming Al-Faisaly 2-1, which made them enter the final game needing at least a draw to advance to the next round, however, Hassan Maatouk's penalty in the 68th minute ensured the three points for his team. Al Nejmeh will now face African giants Al Ahly in the first round, with the first-leg taking place in Egypt. The Lebanese club had former Egypt international Mahmoud Fathallah in their ranks for one season, before the veteran defender left them to join Arab Contractors last summer. The remaining spot in the first round will go to either Egypt's Ittihad of Alexandria or Fath Union Sport of Morocco, as the latter now sit top of group B, only ahead of Ittihad on goal difference, with one game to go. It's worth mentioning that Egypt's other representatives Zamalek and Ismaily will face Kwaitit sides El-Qadsia and Kuwait SC in the first round respectively.
