Pyramids FC name squad for Al-Merreikh Bentiu Champions League tie

Pyramids FC have announced their squad for the first leg of their CAF Champions League round of 32 tie against South Sudanese side Al-Merreikh Bentiu.

South African coach Rulani Mokwena, Pyramids’ technical director, has selected a squad of 28 players for the match, which will be played at Juba International Stadium on Friday, 16 October.

The Egyptian side will travel to South Sudan on Tuesday, 13 October, aboard a private aircraft arranged by the club’s management ahead of the crucial continental fixture.

Pyramids head into the tie in confident mood after recording an emphatic 4-1 victory over Ceramica Cleopatra in the sixth round of the Egyptian Premier League.

They had fallen behind early in the match at the Air Defence Stadium but responded strongly to score four goals and secure an impressive comeback win.

The Egyptian club will be hoping to carry that momentum into the Champions League as they begin their pursuit of a place in the group stage.

The first leg against Al-Merreikh Bentiu is scheduled for 15:30 local time on Friday, with the return fixture set to determine which side advances to the next stage of the competition.

Pyramids are also scheduled to hold two training sessions at Juba International Stadium on Wednesday and Thursday.

The sessions are in line with CAF regulations, which allow visiting teams two training sessions at the match venue when the playing surface is artificial turf, as is the case at the stadium in Juba.

Pyramids FC squad for Al-Merreikh Bentiu

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.