Head coach of Al Ahly, Jess Thorup, has highlighted the importance of playing the first leg away from home as the team gears up of the crucial quarterfinal clash against Esperance de Tunis.
The Egyptian heavyweights, who are the record holders of the competition are set for a blockbuster clash against Esperance following the draw in Cairo on Tuesday.
“The first leg against Esperance outside of Egypt is an important point, especially since the team will play the return leg at home and in front of its fans in Cairo, which is a positive thing for Al-Ahly’s journey in the tournament.”
“All the teams that qualified for the quarter-finals are strong and have great motivation to continue competing, and the team that seeks to win the title should not fear any competitor.”
“Al-Ahly’s topping their group in the group stage is a good thing, but it is now part of the past, and the team will continue its journey with the same desire and motivation to achieve victory in every match.”
“The match against Esperance is of great interest, but the current focus is entirely on the league championship, and we will go into the next stage with one goal, which is to win.”
The first leg of the quarterfinal has been scheduled for the weekend of March 13-15, 2026, with the reverse fixture slated for March 20-22, 2026.
With tight scheduling across domestic and continental calendars, managing squad rotation, travel and pressure will be crucial over these two legs.
Fans across Africa can now circle mid-March on their calendars as the continent’s premier club competition enters its most dramatic phase yet.
