CAFCL: Two Al Hilal players to miss second leg clash with Al Ahly

Al Hilal star attacker Mohamed Abdelrahman watches Hilal train ahead of the first leg of their Champions League clash with Al Ahly. Photo Credit: Al Hilal SC

Sudanese giants Al Hilal have confirmed they will be without two key players for the second leg of their CAF Champions League quarterfinal against Al Ahly. After a 1-0 first leg defeat in Cairo, Al Hilal are looking to overturn the deficit in Tuesday's second leg in their adopted home in Nouakchott, Mauritania .

The Omdurman outfit will miss striker Mohamed Abdelrahman and center-back Taieb Ben Zitoun. Abdelrahman is still recovering from an ankle injury. The club stated that the Sudan international needs at least two more weeks to return to action, ruling him out of the crucial tie.

Tunisian defender Ben Zitoun, who played just half an hour in the 1–0 first-leg loss to Al Ahly in Cairo, was forced off the pitch due to a ligament injury. Al Hilal have officially confirmed he requires rest, effectively ruling him out of the second leg in Mauritania.

Head coach Florent Ibengé will be forced to reshuffle his backline, with a new center-back pairing. Senegalese defender Ousmane Diouf is likely to step in after coming on as Ben Zitoun's replacement. In attack, Yasir Mozamil is likely to lead the line in Abdelrahman’s absence.

Al Hilal are hoping to overturn the 1–0 first-leg defeat and progress to the semifinals at the expense of reigning African champions Al Ahly. The club has also called on the people of Mauritania, especially those in Nouakchott, to come out in numbers and support the team.