Ismailia-Yasser Al Sherif: Ismaili coach Patrice Neveu has issued a warning to his players ahead of their African Confederation Cup clash against Aiesaia of Madagascar on Sunday. Ismaili held Aiesaia to a 2-2 draw in the first-leg, but French coach Neveu insisted that the comfortable score line does not guarantee the Egyptians will advance. “Our opposition has young and fit players,” Neveu told FilGoal.com. “We have to be careful.” Ismaili need to draw or win by any score line to secure their place in the round of 16, but their job will not be easy in the absence of some key figures. The Ismailia powerhouse will be without star striker Mohamed Fadl who is injured and pivotal midfielder Hosni Abd-Rabou who was sent off in the first-leg.
Ismaili will be without Abd-Rabou On the other hand, Aiesaia's officials expressed their confidence in ousting Ismaili and moving on to the next round. “Ismaili is like an open book,” said the club's president. “We came here to win, and I pretty sure we will.” Aiesaia's coach echoed the club president's sentiments, banking on his team's performance in the first-leg. “We are ready and we will give a performance that makes Madagascar proud,” he said. “Our goal is to prove that we are the better team, because we would have won the first-leg if Ismaili's goalkeeper didn't save that late penalty shot.”
