Ismaili, already blighted by financial problems and injuries to key players, will have another major worry when they face bitter rivals Ahli in the African Champions League on Sunday. The Dervishes could not have a worse start to their group stage campaign after slumping to a 1-0 home loss to Algeria's JS Kabylie despite dominating possession for the majority of the game. Kabylie bagged maximum six points from two games after overcoming Nigeria's Heartland 1-0 on Saturday, leaving Ismaili and Ahli with few options at Cairo Stadium. On paper, six-time African champions Ahli, who settled for a 1-1 draw at Heartland in their first game, look overwhelming favorites to secure a win that would deal a huge blow to Ismaili's chances of booking a last-four berth. Ahli are buoyed by their Egyptian Super Cup victory over Harras Hodoud and the high-profile players they signed in the close season, including Egypt forward Geddo who could make his debut against Ismaili despite being involved in a transfer wrangle. Lebanese striker Mohamed Ghaddar, who arrived to fill in for departed striker Emad Meteb, may also make his first appearance but mercurial midfielder Mohamed Barakat will be missing after undergoing a minor eye surgery.
Ismaili greatly miss the skills of Omar Gamal Ismaili signed three strikers in Mostafa Gaafar, Nigerian Ndubuisi Godwin and Moroccan Abdessalam Benjelloun upon the recommendation of Dutch coach Mark Wotte after the team struggled to threaten Kabylie. 'Very unlucky' Gaafar was ruled out of the game following the death of his wife while Godwin and Benjelloun might not be fully fit to take part in the anticipated game. Ismaili could also struggle for creativity, with long-term absentees Omar Gamal and Abdullah Saied still nursing niggling injuries. The one-time African champions have also lost Egypt midfielder Hosni Abd-Rabou, who returned to the club after spending two seasons on loan at UAE side Ahli, to a serious knee injury. "We are very unlucky, look at the string of injuries which hit our key players," Wotte, who returned to Ismaili for a second spell after the resignation of Emad Soliman, told a news conference.
Coulibaly embroiled in controversy "The match is very difficult but we should claim all three points to make up for our surprise defeat to Kabylie. "We still have a good team who can defeat Ahli despite the current injury crisis." Malian referee Koman Coulibaly will be in charge of the game and under the spotlight after Ismaili heavily criticized him for expressing his gratitude to Ahli ahead of the game. The 40-year-old was quoted in local media as thanking Ahli for warmly welcoming him to infuriate Ismaili. With no love lost between Ismaili and Ahli, any refereeing blunder could prompt incessant protests at the 74,100-seat Cairo Stadium. "The way Coulibaly spoke about Ahli could influence his decisions in such a sensitive game," Ismaili spokesman Alaa Wahid said.
