Al Ahli FC v Pyramids FC
FIFA African-Asian-Pacific Cup
Tuesday, 23 September | King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, Jeddah
Kick-off times
21:00 (Jeddah) | 21:00 (Cairo)
Live stream information
Fans can watch all the live action from Jeddah for free on FIFA+ as Al Ahli and Pyramids battle for a berth in the Challenger Cup. Check out the match page on FIFA+ to find out whether it is available to stream in your territory.
Eid: This is a historic opportunity for Pyramids
The build-up
Having eased past Auckland City 3-0 in last week’s play-off, Pyramids FC head to Jeddah where they will clash with Al Ahli FC in the FIFA African-Asian-Pacific Cup.
The reigning African champions were back on domestic duties at the weekend and maintained their positive run of results going with a 1-0 win over ZED to keep pace with the leaders early in the new Egyptian Premier League season.
It’s also early days in the Saudi Pro League, where Al Ahli have started with a win and two draws, including a lively 3-3 result at home to FIFA Club World Cup™ quarter-finalists Al Hilal at the weekend.
That continued a largely positive start for the Jeddah giants after they downed Al Nassr on penalties to win the Saudi Super Cup last month before seeing off Nasaf to claim maximum points in their AFC Champions League Elite opener last week.
Team news
Pyramids arrived in Jeddah on Saturday to start their preparations with head coach Krunoslav Jurcic naming a 28-strong travelling squad. The Cairo giants have been fairly settled of late, with nine of the starters from the Auckland win backing up in their league outing last Friday.
Al Ahli meanwhile made some eye-catching transfer moves in the off-season, bringing in one of the highest-rated young talents in European football in 20-year-old French midfielder Valentin Atangana. Also joining Matthias Jaissle’s squad was Saudi Arabian international left-back Zakaria Hawsawi, ex Stuttgart string-puller Enzo Millot and former Flamengo starlet Matheus Goncalves.
Much attention though is focused on the fitness of Brazilian trickster Galeno, with the former Porto winger reportedly getting through training in the build-up to the match having missed both of Al Ahli’s last two fixtures with injury.
Possible starting XIs
Al Ahli (4-2-3-1): Mendy; Majrashi, Ibanez, Demiral, Hawsawi; Al Johani, Kessie; Mahrez, Millot, Matheus Goncalves; Toney
Pyramids FC (4-2-3-1): El Shenawy; Chibi, Sami, Galal, Hamdi; Lasheen, Toure; Atef, El Karti, Ewerton; Mayele.
What they said
“This is an enormous opportunity for Pyramids – really, a historic chance to feature in a tournament of this calibre and we want to go as far as we can.”
Mamdouh Eid, Pyramids FC CEO
Stats
King Abdullah Sports City Stadium
Opened in 2014, the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium is one of the jewels of Saudi, and Asian, football. The wider facility has also hosted high-profile boxing, wrestling and tennis matches.
It was also where Al Ahli downed Kawasaki, in front of almost 60,000 supporters, to win last season’s Asian Champions League title and book their place at both the Intercontinental Cup and the next edition of the Club World Cup.
