AS FAR must overturn a daunting three-goal deficit when they host Egypt’s Pyramids FC in the second leg of their CAF Champions League quarter-final tie on Tuesday evening in Rabat.
The Moroccan side suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat in the first leg in Cairo, leaving them with a steep mountain to climb at home if they are to reach the semi-finals of Africa’s premier club competition.
While not mathematically eliminated, the scale of the challenge ahead means AS FAR must deliver one of their most complete performances of the season to keep their continental hopes alive.
Pyramids FC, under the guidance of Croatian coach Krunoslav Jurcic, will arrive in Morocco brimming with confidence after their emphatic win.
The Egyptian outfit capitalised on defensive lapses from the visitors to secure a commanding first-leg advantage, placing one foot firmly in the final four.
With that cushion, Jurcic is expected to opt for a more pragmatic approach in Rabat, potentially reinforcing his defence to guard against any early onslaught from the hosts.
For AS FAR, belief in a comeback is their only fuel. Despite the odds, the club remains hopeful of staging a dramatic turnaround in front of their home fans at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium.
Currently sitting second in the Moroccan Botola Pro League, AS FAR have demonstrated resilience and tactical versatility domestically, qualities they will need in abundance against the experienced Egyptian side.
To revive their campaign, Les Militaires will be relying on a strong attacking display and a disciplined backline.
Every pass, tackle, and run must be executed with precision as the Moroccan outfit seeks to erase the three-goal deficit without conceding.
While such turnarounds are rare at this stage of the competition, they are not without precedent.
The club’s technical staff is expected to make strategic changes to the starting XI, likely introducing fresh legs in midfield and attack to unsettle the Pyramids defence early on.
Key to this will be maintaining composure while pressing aggressively from the outset.
The match, scheduled to kick off at 7:00 p.m. GMT, promises to be an emotional rollercoaster. For Pyramids FC, it is a test of discipline and consolidation.
For AS FAR, it is a fight for redemption and an opportunity to make history by defying expectations.
Whether the Moroccan side can turn the tide or whether the Egyptian visitors will complete the job remains to be seen.
One certainty, however, is that Tuesday’s clash will demand everything from both sets of players — technically, tactically, and mentally — as the race to the CAF Champions League semi-finals reaches its climax.
