Al Ahly head coach Jess Thorup has described his aspect’s TotalEnergies CAF Champions League quarter-final in opposition to Esperance Sportive de Tunis as a “robust mission for each groups” however insists the Egyptian giants stay firmly targeted on reaching the semi-finals.
The draw, held in Cairo on Tuesday, paired Africa’s most profitable membership with the four-time Tunisian champions in one of many standout ties of the final eight.
Al Ahly will journey to Tunisia for the primary leg between 13 and 15 March earlier than internet hosting the decisive return fixture in Cairo per week later — a sequence Thorup believes may show advantageous.
“I am completely happy that we begin the primary recreation away, so we are able to end up in our personal nice stadium within the final recreation,” Thorup stated.
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“For me, it is an excellent factor that the primary leg might be on their subject. And due to this fact, the second leg might be on our subject, in our stadium, in entrance of our followers.”
Al Ahly progressed to the knockout stage as Group B winners with 10 factors, ending one level forward of Morocco’s AS FAR.
Nonetheless, Thorup was fast to maneuver the main focus ahead.
“It was good to be primary within the group, however now that is the previous,” he stated. “Now we’re trying ahead to the quarter-finals.”
The Danish coach acknowledged the power of the remaining subject, emphasising that there are “solely huge groups left on this competitors”.
“All of the groups within the quarter-finals are sturdy. And if you wish to win the trophy, you need to win in opposition to each opponent,” Thorup stated.
“Sure, it should be a tricky recreation. We all know this. However we’re very a lot trying ahead to this recreation.”
Esperance, four-time African champions, carry vital pedigree into the tie, organising a high-profile North African showdown.
The winner will face both Mamelodi Sundowns or Stade Malien within the semi-finals.
Regardless of the magnitude of the event, Thorup confused that Al Ahly’s goal stays unchanged.
“We began on this competitors with just one goal — that’s profitable this trophy,” he stated. “It does not matter which opponent we will meet. We solely have one purpose, which is profitable our soccer recreation.”
Thorup additionally underlined the significance of dwelling help in Cairo, describing it as an important issue within the membership’s continental ambitions.
Nonetheless, he confirmed that the squad’s fast focus stays on home league commitments earlier than consideration absolutely turns to the two-legged showdown.
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For Al Ahly, report 12-time champions of Africa, the mission is obvious: navigate a formidable Esperance check and take one other step in direction of continental glory.
