Ismaili kicked off their Arab Cup of Club with a 3-1 away defeat to Sudanese side Khartoum in the competition's round of 32 first leg. The Dervishes made their first competitive appearance since January after deciding to participate in the low-profile regional tournament, with the domestic league suspended. It was the Egyptian visitors who opened the scoring at the stroke of half time when new Ghanaian signing John Antwi scored on his debut. But the hosts replied with three goals after the interval from Mohamed Abdul-Monem ‘Ankaba', Ibrahim Salah and Nader Khalifa. Sabri Al-Meniawi's men now need to overturn their two-goal deficit in the return leg which takes place on December 2.
