Reigning African champions Pyramids FC will face Saudi powerhouse Al Ahli in Jeddah this Tuesday in a high-stakes play-off for a berth in the FIFA Challenger Cup. The one-off FIFA African-Asian-Pacific Cup tie is scheduled for a 21:00 kick-off at King Abdullah Sports City.
This marks the first-ever meeting between the two clubs and a significant moment for Pyramids, who are only the second Egyptian team after Al Ahly to represent Africa in a FIFA club competition.
The Cairo-based club enters the match in strong form under manager Krunoslav Jurcic. They recently secured a commanding 3-0 play-off victory against Auckland City, followed by a 1-0 domestic league win over ZED. Jurcic has named a 28-man travelling squad, indicating continuity from the team that defeated the Oceania champions.
Al Ahli, however, presents a formidable challenge. Managed by Matthias Jaissle, the Saudi Pro League side is unbeaten in its last three domestic matches and recently won the Saudi Super Cup. Their squad, already featuring stars like Edouard Mendy, Franck Kessié, and Riyad Mahrez, has been bolstered by summer signings including Valentin Atangana and Enzo Millot. The main fitness concern surrounds Brazilian winger Galeno, who has returned to training after missing the last two games.
Pyramids CEO Mahmoud Eid highlighted the significance of the occasion, stating, “This is an enormous opportunity for Pyramids – a historic chance to feature in a tournament of this calibre, and we want to go as far as we can.”
While Al Ahli are making their debut on the FIFA stage, they stormed to last season’s Asian title with an impressive undefeated run of 12 wins and one draw. They clinched that championship in the very same stadium, providing a familiar backdrop for this crucial encounter. With a place in December’s Challenger Cup on the line, the match is set to be a compelling contest between two continental champions.
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