Following their victory over AS Douanes from Togo, Wadi Degla of Egypt is gearing up to host Djoliba AC from Bamako in the first leg of the CAF Confederation Cup round of 16 this Saturday. Despite it being their debut in continental competition, the Egyptian club is determined to make a respectable showing. While Wadi Degla managed to dispatch the Togolese customs officers without much trouble, they anticipate a tougher challenge against the Malian side in the upcoming double-header. Djoliba is renowned for its regular participation in continental fixtures.
The squad of the Egyptian club comprises a handful of seasoned players with international experience, notably Essam Al-Hadari, the Pharaohs’ goalkeeper, and midfielders Mohamad Abdel-Wahed and Mohab Saïd. However, a significant portion of the team lacks such exposure.
“We’ve greatly benefited from Al-Hadari’s wealth of experience. He played a pivotal role in guiding his teammates, who were somewhat tense in the previous round due to their inexperience. They’ve learned a great deal from him. Their improved performance and the results speak volumes about their progress,” explains Hicham Zakariya, the team’s technical director.
According to Zakariya, the primary objective is to secure a favorable result at home next Saturday to ease the task for the return leg in Bamako.
Tags: CAF Confederation Cup, Djoliba AC, Egypt, Eldin Salah, Essam Al-Hadari, Wadi Degla
