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Africa’s most successful clubs clash in a Caf Champions League box office final on Friday
Egyptian giants Al-Ahly and SC Zamalek collide in the final of the Caf Champions League on Friday at the Cairo International Stadium to decide who will be the African champions.
It is not unreasonable to suggest that this is the most important match in the history of African club football, as the continent’s two most successful teams, and fiercest rivals, go head-to-head for the biggest prize on offer.
These two have been fighting for decades, both domestically (for Egypt’s best trophies) and on the continent, contesting the Caf Super Cup in 1994 and numerous double-headed knockout matches of the Caf Champions League.
However, they have never met at this stage, and neither side can afford to come up short in this showdown between Cairo’s heavyweights.
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| Venue of events | Cairo International Stadium, Cairo |
| Date | Friday November 27 |
| Time | 21:00 CAT |
TV channel, live score and how to watch
The game will be broadcast live on BeinSports.
| Online streaming | Television channel |
|---|---|
| Be in sports | BeinSports 2 |
Squads and team news
Both teams underwent coronavirus tests before Friday’s final, and both will be left without several key players after they tested positive.
Zamalek will be missing the trio Abdallah Gom’aa, Youssef Obama and Mahmoud Hamdy El-Wensh, with the last of these three already missing after being previously diagnosed with Covid-19.
Experienced left-back Walid Soliman and Saleh Gom’aa will be absent for Ahly, while Mali international Aliou Dieng will also be absent for the Red Devils after testing positive, despite returning from an injury sustained in international service.
Match preview
One of the big talking points heading into the match has been whether or not fans will be allowed to enter the 74,000-seat Cairo International Stadium in the country’s capital.
Earlier this week, however, the African Football Confederation announced, according to the Egyptian Football Association, that it had decided to play the match behind closed doors.
While the safety of the population amid the coronavirus pandemic should be the top priority, it is a bitter disappointment to fans of these two giants, who are missing out on a match that has the potential to be one of the most explosive in the world. the history of the African game.
However, expect a feverish atmosphere in Cairo before the fight and, at least for a group of supporters, after the fight.
Caf Champions League final: African football venue’s match of the century? https://t.co/Ul9KdGFlQx pic.twitter.com/O7beVXaSwJ
– Goal Africa (@GoalAfrica) November 26, 2020
Beyond the obvious context of a collision between these two perennial rivals, there is also intrigue on the touchline, where South African Pitso Mosimane has made a strong impression on Ahly after signing from Mamelodi Sundowns.
He won the African title with Downs in 2016, becoming the second South African coach to accomplish the feat, and would break new ground for sub-Saharan African coaches if he can clinch the gold on Friday.
He just can’t afford to lose to Zamalek as they seek their first title since 2002, while Ahly last won gold in 2013.
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