Preview · CAF Confederation Cup

Al Ahly defend a 2-1 lead against a Kitara side still disputing the first-leg penalty

Zizo's late penalty won the first leg in Hoima, and Kitara's vice-president says it should not have been given. Al Ahly come in after a 3-3 draw with Canal and with seven players missing.

A panorama of a nearly full Cairo International Stadium before a match.
Cairo International Stadium during warm-ups at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. Photo: Crosskimo / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain

Al Ahly take a 2-1 lead into Sunday's second leg of their CAF Confederation Cup tie. They are in Africa's second club competition after finishing third in the league last season, and the first leg in Hoima was harder than expected: Gadafi Wahab put Kitara ahead after 31 minutes before Omar El-Saaiy equalised and Zizo scored the winner from the penalty spot eight minutes from time.

Al Ahly are expected to win in a game of three goals or more, with one side kept out.

Kitara have not let that penalty go. Their vice-president, Bernard Kanyuru, disputes it and an offside decision, and the club's president has said Al Ahly are not as strong as they were. Kitara are in only their second Confederation Cup campaign; the first, in 2024, ended in the first preliminary round.

Hussein Ammouta has seven players missing. Mostafa Shobeir is away for his wedding, Yasser Ibrahim's ankle has flared up again and Ahmed Nabil Koka is not fully fit after a hamstring strain, while Karim El Debes, Mahmoud Salah, Amr El Gazzar and Aktay Abdullah are also out.

Al Ahly come in after a 3-3 draw with Canal on Tuesday that left them four points behind Pyramids at the top of the league, a week after beating Zamalek 2-0 in the derby.