Ahli football director Sayed Abdul-Hafiz says Egyptian sport is heading into a ‘dark tunnel' as the Reds received a major blow to their Champions League preparation. Ahli, who are due to visit Ethiopian Coffee on March 23 for their first continental clash of the season, were forced to cancel a Thursday warm-up game with Dakhlia and will not be allowed to meet Wadi Degla next week as well. “We are very disappointment to have our friendlies cancelled because it was our only preparation for the Coffee match,” Abdul-Hafiz told FilGoal.com. “Of course we understand the conditions in Egypt but I have to say that things are becoming very tough for Ahli ahead of the Champions League game. “The Dubai camp was not enough to restore the team's technical and physical form. It is also difficult to organize any matches outside Cairo now. “The situation is getting more and more difficult for Egyptian sport in general, not just Ahli. The crisis is heading into a dark tunnel.” Egyptian football has been rocked by the Port-Said disaster that marred Ahli's game with Masri last month, leaving at least 77 fans dead. Ahli's Cairo rivals Zamalek, who are also preparing for a Champions League clash with Africa Sport, had two warm-up games with Police Union and MCDR called off this week as well.
