CAIRO - Al-Ahly finished preparing for their crucial match at the African Champions League (ACL), a second-leg encounter at round of 32 today against Kenya's Tusker FC Club at Borg el-Arab Stadium in Alexandria at 7:30pm Cairo Local Time. Al-Ahly (The Red Devils) General Coach, Mohamed Youssef, is optimistic ahead of the clash, describing the game as a "great challenge," Egypt's official Middle East News Agency (MENA) reported. Youssef underlined the importance of the team's victory at the Premier League match against Misr Elmaqasah 1-0 last week, pointing out that this victory has several benefits. "We are on top of Group A at the local League," he said. "The victory against Elmaqasah has effects morale before facing Kenya's Tusker today," Youssef said, adding that it will give the players a push ahead of the CAF game. "The coaching staff is confident that the players will achieve a positive result against the Tuskers. The players are concentrating hard and are waiting for the opportunity to participate in the match," Youssef explained. "We should not mislead with the first-leg result as the opponent has talented players and a coaching staff that can turn the balances," Youssef added. Youssef pointed out that his side is in good technical condition after the return of many injured players like Rami Rabeia and Hossam Ashour (who was complaining of tooth pain), and left-wing Sayyed Moawad. Al-Ahly football director, Sayyed Abdel-Hafez, stressed the value of having the team's fans in the match against the Tuskers, especially after a long absence, pointing out their role in all Al-Ahly victories. Ahly, six-time ACL winners, grabbed a narrow win in Nairobi, Kenya, in March at the first-leg clash thanks to striker Emad Mete'b who scored two second-half goals that gave the Red Devils a 2-1 victory against Kenya's Tuskers in the first-leg of the ACL round of 32. The General Manager of Al-Ahly Club, Mahmoud Allam, said that the club has received the approval of security officials to increase the number of fans from 1,000 to 3,000 supporters. According to sources at the Red Devils, the technical coach Hossam El-Badri has told the players to snatch an early goal, so they can then relax and enjoy the game. El-Badri, 52, was responsible for the team from 2009 to late 2010, leading Ahly to 2009-2010 Egyptian Premier League and 2010 Egypt Super Cup glory. He has signed a contract for two seasons starting from 2012-2013. Badri focused in the last training session on the importance of controlling the midfield zone and quick attacks by both wings to exploit the weakness of Kenya's champion defensive lines, the sources added. "The second leg against the Tusker of Kenya will not be easy at all, as Kenya's champion will enter the game with large aspirations, because any goal that the Kenyan side scores may turn the situation," the Red Devils coach explained. "Midfielder Abdullah el-Saeed missed out the last training session due to injury, but he may be available for tonight's game," says El-Badri. Ahly doctor, Khaled Mahmoud, said that the team's playmaker, Mohamed Barakat, was not involved in the team's training session due to exhaustion. "The player will be ready for the CAF game upon the coaching staff view," he added. As for the team's midfielder, Hossam Ashour, he explained that the player will be available for the game. Al-Ahly squad for the game: Goalkeepers: Sherif Ekrami, Mahmoud Abul Saoud, Ahmed Adel Abdul Moneim. Defenders: Mohamed Naguib, Wael Gomaa, Sherif Abdel-Fadil, Sayyed Moa'wad, Saad Samir, Ahmed Seddik, Ahmed Shedid. Midfielders: Mohamed Barakat, Abdullah el-Said, Rami Rabeia, Hossam Ashour, Shehab el-Deen Ahmed, Ahmed Shoukry, Dominique d' Silva. Strikers: El-Sayyed Hamdi, Emad Mete'b, Ahmed Abdel Zaher.
