Al Ahly face off against Wydad AC at the Cairo International Stadium on Sunday evening, in the first leg of the CAF Champions League final.
The Egyptian side have won the competition more than any other side, having lifted the trophy 10 times, but they face a very tough test against the reigning champions.
Match preview
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Al Ahly are four points clear at the top of the Egyptian Premier League, while they also have four games in hand on second-placed Pyramids, meaning they are almost certain to win yet another league title.
The Red Devils have won the competition 42 times, far more than any other club, but they have not been crowned champions since the 2019-20 season, which by their standards is a long time without finishing top of the table.
Marcelo Koller's side have blitzed their domestic competition, collecting 62 points from 24 matches, and they have not conceded a single goal in their last 10 matches in all competitions, most recently defeating Ceramica Cleopatra 1-0.
To reach this stage of the CAF Champions League, Al Ahly have swept aside Raja Casablanca and Esperance Tunis with relative ease, keeping clean sheets in all four of their matches in the competition up to this point.
However, to be crowned champions of Africa once again, the Red Devils are now tasked with defeating a side they came unstuck against in the final last season, losing 2-0 in front of a crowd of 80,000 in Casablanca.
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Al Ahly will undoubtedly be out to get revenge, but they will know they face a very difficult task, given that Wydad are the current holders of the competition, and they have reached four of the last seven finals.
That said, WAC were unable to win their domestic league this season, despite the fact they picked up 56 points in 26 games, with FAR Rabat clinching the title by a single point.
Although they were not able to defend their league title, Sven Vandenbroeck's side still have an opportunity to make a success out of this season, should they retain the CAF Champions League for the first time ever.
Wydad are three-time winners of the CAF Champions League, and if they are able to defeat Al Ahly over two legs, they will become the most successful Moroccan side in the history of the competition.
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Team News
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Al Ahly striker Mohamed Sherif was rested against Ceramica Cleopatra, however it would not be a surprise if the 27-year-old replaces Kahraba in the starting lineup, given that he is their top scorer in the league this season.
Ahmed Abdelkader has featured more regularly than Hussein El Shahat this season, however the latter is set to keep his place in the team, after scoring in his last two games.
Wydad could move a couple of changed, with striker Bouly Junior Sambou likely to return to the team, having scored 12 league goals this season, the most of any player in the division.
Aymane El Hassouni could also be brought back into the side, having scored eight goals in the league, with Muaid Ellafi dropping to the bench.
Al Ahly possible starting lineup:
Shobeir; Hany, Abdelmonem, Metwaly, Maaloul; Attia, Tau, El Solia, Dieng, Abdeldaker; Sherif
Wydad AC possible starting lineup:
El Motie; Zola, Farhane, Daoudi, Attiyat, El Amloud; Ellafi, Jaadi, El Hassouni; Ounajem, Sambou
We say: Al Ahly 2-0 Wydad AC
Al Ahly have been formidable this season, almost certain to win the league title, while Wydad have dropped off somewhat compared to last season.
As such, we expect the Egyptian side to record a comfortable victory, taking a big step towards atoning for their loss in last year's final.
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Dominic Lund
