Defending champions Ahli's first game in the CAF Champions League group phase against Al-Hilal of Sudan will be played on Sunday June 24th at Cairo International Stadium. A Senegalese crew led by referee Badara Diatta has been chosen to take charge the game. He will be assisted by his compatriots Magueye Sow and Mamadou Ndione. Egyptian champions Ahli have been in charge of the last two competitions, while Sudanese surprise package Hilal are in the last 8 for their first time under the new system that was adopted in 1997.
Hilal will be making their first quarter-finals appearance under the new system They are joined by Tunisian giants Esperance and last year's semi-finalists ASEC Mimosas in Group B of the top African club competition. Ahli's second fixture against Ivory Coast's ASEC will be played on Sunday July 8th in Abidjan. A refereeing crew from Zimbabwe led by Kenias Marange has been appointed for the game, linesmen Alfred Zindove and Ngoni Bouyed will assist.
