Egypt's Al-Ahly are facing a difficult group in the African Champions League (ACL) quarterfinals, having been drawn with their traditional and compatriots arch-rivals Ismaili, JS Kabylie of Algeria and Heartland of Nigeria, according to the local media on Saturday. Ahly's coach Hossam el-Badri,50, confirmed that qualifying for the semis is no easy task, as they're up against some strong opponents. El-Badri, who would love to see the two Egyptian teams in the final, said that Heartland of Nigeria were ACL finalists last year and Kabylie have won many championships. Algerian side JS Kabylie have decided to stage their African games in the large 5 Juillet Stadium. Kabylie usually play their home matches at the 20,000-seater Stade 1er Novembre, but they are targeting bigger support in the Champions League. "It will be much better when we play at Stade 5 Juillet," Kabylie chairman Mohand Hannachi was quoted as saying by local media. "We will generate more revenue and have better support because Stade 5 Juillet can host up to 80,000 spectators." They open their campaign away to one-time African champions Ismaili in July. Meanwhile, Egypt's Harras Al-Hodoud are looking to become the first Egyptian team to win the Confederation Cup, coach Tareq el-Ashri said on Friday night. The military club failed to make it beyond the group stage of Africa's secondary competition last season, but are determined to make amends this time. "We want the title," el-Ashri, under whom Al-Hodoud claimed their first ever title in winning the Egyptian Cup last season, told Filgoal.com. "We don't want a repeat of last season's group-stage exit." Al-Hodoud, who overcame Ethiopia's Banks and Tanzania's Simba in their first two African contests this season, will face Botswana's Gaborone United in the Confederation Cup round of 16 in July. If they win the two-legged tie, they will book a place in the competition's group stage. "The draw was good for us. Our opponents are not that strong," el-Ashri added. "However, we are taking nothing for granted. Gaborone won the league in Botswana, so we have to be cautious. If we reach the group stage, we'll have a chance to field the new players we will sign in the close season." Alexandria-based club Hodoud lie sixth in the Egyptian Premier League table with just one match remaining. They can ensure that they will take part in the Confederation Cup next season if they successfully defend their Egyptian Cup title.
