This evening, the African CAF Champions League winner, Egyptian team Al Ahly, will face the AFC Champions League Elite champion, UAE team Al-Ain, in the Fifa Intercontinental Cup.
Last year, Al-Ain secured their spot in this tournament after defeating the Japanese team Yokohama FM 6-3 on aggregate in a two-legged elimination final. Al Ahly, on the other hand, qualified by overcoming Tunisian side Esperance 1-0 in the CAF Champions League.
The match will be officiated by Turkish referee Halil Umut Meler. The winner will advance to the next round, and if they manage to reach the final, they will earn the right to face the Champions League winner, Real Madrid.
The game is expected to be closely contested, but Al Ahly, who recently won the Egyptian Super Cup by defeating their arch-rivals Zamalek, appears to have a slight edge over their opponents.
The expected lineups for the match are as follows:
Al Ahly: Mohamed El-Shennawy – Rami Rabia, Yasser Ibrahim, Yahia Attiyat Allah, Akram Tawfik – Marwan Attia, Emam Ashour, Ahmed Koka, Hussein El-Shahat, Wessam Abou Ali, Taher Mohamed.
Al-Ain FC: Khalid Eisa – Bandar Mohamed, Fábio Cardoso, Kouame Autonne Kouadio, Erik – Yong-woo Park, Mohammed Al-Baloushi, Abdoul Karim Traore – Kaku, Matías Palacios, Soufiane Rahimi.
