A tantalising prospect lies in store as CONCACAF winners Pachuca lock horns with Egyptian champions and reigning CAF Champions League winners Al Ahly at the Stadium 974 today in the FIFA Challenger Cup. The victors will face European champions Real Madrid in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup final at Lusail Stadium on Wednesday, December 18.
The Mexicans will head into the game buoyant after their comprehensive 3-0 victory over Botafogo in the FIFA Derby of the Americas on Wednesday. They can expect to face stern examination against a high-quality Al Ahly team, who qualified for the Challenger Cup with a 3-0 success against UAE side Al Ain in October.
Pachuca could be without defender Sergio Barreto, who was forced off injured during their win over Botafogo.
Gustavo Cabral could replace the 25-year-old in the starting XI. Al Ahly will be unable to call upon goalkeeper Oufa Shobeir, defender Mohamed Hany and winger Karim Fouad. The injured trio have not been named in their Intercontinental Cup squad.
Ahly coach Marcel Koller said he will not settle for anything less than leading his side to the final against Real Madrid. While some coaches might shy away from placing that kind of burden on their players’ shoulders, Koller knows his squad have the muscle to handle it.
“I think it’s going to be a fantastic time to be here, to play in this tournament and play against the best teams in the world,” said Koller. “We are happy and we hope we can win the next game and go to the final. We went to see [Pachuca’s] game against Botafogo,” added Koller. “They played excellently tactically. That’s how we’re preparing now too. We want to get the best possible result. We naturally want to get to the final against Real Madrid. That’s why it’s important that the players are focused in this all-or-nothing game. The losers go home and we want to stay here a bit longer. Regardless of whether there is extra time or a penalty shoot-out. The goal has to be to reach the final.”
The prospect of playing at the Lusail Stadium, venue of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 final is the icing on the cake for the Swiss coach.
“It’s fantastic to be able to play in these stadiums here in Qatar,” said Koller. “It wasn’t that long ago that the World Cup was held here. We also have fantastic training grounds, which is not something we have everywhere in Africa. That makes it enjoyable for the players and for me as a coach. As a result, the level is high and it’s important to feel that on the pitch in the game in order to advance.”
Ahly are no strangers to success in international competition. They clinched their 12th CAF Champions League title this year and four times reached the podium at a FIFA Club World Cup across ten appearances. This resounding triumph has boosted the confidence of Guillermo Almada’s Pachuca. Having eliminated the Copa Libertadores champion, they now believe they have a real chance of advancing to the final and competing for the title against Real Madrid.
The Tuzos showcased their excellent form in the opening match. However, they cannot afford to underestimate the Egyptian side. “Our ambition is to compete in every match. We showed (against Botafogo) that we have character and quality in our team. We came here with dreams, just like everyone else,” stated Oussama Idrissi, a former player for Sevilla and Cadiz, among other clubs.
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