Al Ahly are 90 minutes away from a place in the CAF Champions League semifinal as they take a 2-1 advantage into the second leg of their semifinal tie against Raja Casablanca at Mohamed V Stadium on Friday night.
Kick-off is at 21h00 GMT.
Amr El Soulia and Hussien El Shahat gave Al Ahly an important lead in the opening twenty minutes of the game but a late goal in the first half from Raja reduced the deficit.
Al Ahly manager Pitso Mosimane will look to guide his team into the semifinals as they continue the defence of the continental crown they won at the back in 2020.
Overturning a deficit away from home is an incredibly difficult task, but the South African coach has urged his team to show their experience and spirit in what could be a tense and nervy game.
“We expect Friday’s game to be a tough one, as we will be playing against an experienced team with great history. Therefore, we are fully concentrated on the game,” Mosimane said in a pre-match interview.
“We were able to defeat Raja in the CAF Super Cup and in the first leg of the CAF Champions League quarter-finals. We will be looking forward to defeating them tomorrow and qualifying for the next round.
“Of course, we will be competing against them on the pitch but that doesn’t affect the strong relationship between both teams off the pitch.”
Raja coach Rachid Taoussi will have to cope with the absence of playmaker Mohamed Nahiri who will not be available due to suspension.
However, the Moroccan giants still believe in their chances to qualify for their fourth African title having won their last Champions League trophy back in 1999.
“We will play at home thus we will play with a different way of that produced in Cairo” Taoussi told the pre-match news conference on Thursday.
“Ahly is a good team that have many international players but we will fight against them to advance to the next round.”
Senegalese referee Maguette N’Diaye will officiate the encounter and he will joined by countrymen El Hadji Malick Samba and Noah Bangura as his assistants with Issa Sy as the fourth official.
The winner will come up against either Wydad Casablanca or CR Belouizdad in the 2021/2022 CAF Champions League semifinal. The first-leg in Algiers finished in a 1-0 in favor of the visitors.
