Pyramids FC coach Rulani Mokwena names squad for CAF Champions League clash against Al-Merreikh

South African coach Rulani Mokwena has announced Pyramids FC’s squad for their CAF Champions League round of 32 first-leg encounter against South Sudanese side Al-Merreikh Bentiu.

The Egyptian champions will travel to South Sudan for Friday’s fixture, scheduled for 3:30 pm at Juba International Stadium, as they begin their campaign in Africa’s premier club competition.

Pyramids head into the encounter in high spirits after recording an emphatic 4–1 victory over Ceramica Cleopatra in the sixth round of the Egyptian Premier League. Despite falling behind early in the match, Mokwena’s men recovered strongly to secure an impressive win at the Air Defence Stadium.

The club’s delegation is scheduled to leave Egypt on Tuesday afternoon, October 13, aboard a private plane provided by the management to ensure the team arrives in South Sudan in good time for the continental assignment.

Mokwena has selected a squad featuring experienced players and attacking options as Pyramids seek to establish an advantage before the return leg.

Pyramids are also scheduled to hold training sessions at Juba International Stadium on Wednesday and Thursday as part of their preparations for the encounter.

The sessions are in line with CAF Champions League regulations, which allow visiting teams two training sessions at the match venue when the stadium has an artificial-turf surface, as is the case at Juba International Stadium.

Mokwena will be hoping his players can carry their domestic form into continental competition and secure a positive result against Al-Merreikh Bentiu before the return fixture in Egypt.

Pyramids FC squad

Goalkeepers: Ahmed El Shenawy, Hazem Gamal, Ziad Haitham.

Defenders: Mahmoud Marei, Ahmed Sami, Mohamed El Sheibi, Khaled Awad, Karim Hafez, Iyad El Asqalani.

Midfielders: Mahmoud Saber, Ahmed Abdelkader, Mostafa Fathi, Ahmed Tawfik, Mohannad Lasheen, Mahmoud Zalaka, Walid El Karti, Abdelrahman Magdy, Nasser Maher, Ahmed Atef Qatta, Mostafa Zico, Ahmed Fawzy, Awda El Fakhoury.

Forwards: Dodo El-Gabbas, Youssef Obama, Ahmed Nadhir Ben Bouali