Depleted African champions Ahli will have an uphill to climb when they take on a strong JS Kabylie side on Saturday without eight of their starting players. Ahli miss defenders Emad Al-Nahhas and Ahmed Al-Sayed due to injury. Shadi Mohamed is banned for this game after allegedly trying to assault the referee after his side's game against Sfaxien in the Champions League. In the midfield, Egypt's instrumental playmakers Mohamed Abou-Treika and Mohamed Barakat as well as newly-signed winger Tarek Al-Saied are sidelined with different injuries. International striker Emad Meteb is also serving a one-match suspension and Angola's only World Cup scorer Flavio joined the injury list. Ahli coach Manuel Jose, who hit out at the Egyptian Football Association and blamed their always-busy calendar for his players' injuries, admitted that he faces a daunting task.
Jose "It is a do-or-die game," said the Portuguese manager, who steered Ahli to four African titles during his two stints in charge. "It won't be easy to play without all these players especially against Kabylie whose players are in a very good physical shape." Jose will be forced to field a second-string lineup that is likely to include new boys Ahmed Sedik and Mohamed Sedik. Reserves such as Amr Samaka, Wael Riyadh and Ahmed Hassan may also find their way to the starting eleven. Ahli lost 1-0 at Sfaxien in their Group A opener and now face the threat of an early exit should they fail to beat the Algerians at home. However, Jose, aware of his side's tight situation, still refuses to give in. "We have no other options than winning the game," he said. "We need at least three victories to secure a place in the semis."
