Sports
Tomorrow, Al Ahly will challenge Sundowns, and Pyramids will face Orlando Pirates in a fiery African clash
As the countdown begins, the continental competition heats up tomorrow (Saturday), with football fans turning their attention to the Egyptian-Southern clash
As the countdown begins, continental competition heats up tomorrow (Saturday), with football fans eagerly anticipating the Egyptian-South African clash in the first leg of the CAF Champions League semi-finals. Al Ahly and Pyramids FC are preparing for crucial battles against Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates, respectively, in a clash that blends history and ambition between the Egyptian and South African clubs. All eyes will be on the Egyptian teams' performances in this major continental test, with fans hoping for a repeat of past glories and a reaffirmation of Egyptian dominance in Africa. Al Ahly, the reigning champions and record holders with 12 titles, will face South Africa's Mamelodi Sundowns in Pretoria, while Pyramids FC, newcomers to the knockout stages, will meet Orlando Pirates in Johannesburg. These matches represent a decisive opportunity for Egyptian clubs to solidify their continental supremacy, and for South African clubs to break this monopoly. The first leg between Al Ahly and Sundowns will be held at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria at 3:00 PM Cairo time. Al Ahly, led by Swiss coach Marcel Koller, aims to continue its journey towards an unprecedented 13th title after qualifying with a comfortable 2-0 aggregate victory over Al Hilal of Sudan. Imam Ashour scored both goals in the two-legged tie, making him one of the team's key weapons. Meanwhile, Mamelodi Sundowns enters the match with high confidence after eliminating Esperance of Tunisia 1-0 on aggregate, thanks to Peter Shalulile's goal. The team, nicknamed "The Brazilians," is relying on the experience of its Portuguese coach, Miguel Cardoso, and the support of its fans to achieve a positive result in the first leg. This encounter is another chapter in the historic rivalry between the two teams, as Sundowns has previously eliminated Al Ahly in the knockout stages in recent years, adding a special dimension to the match. In the other match, Pyramids FC will visit Orlando Pirates at Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg at 6:00 PM Cairo time. Pyramids FC, making their debut in the semi-finals, are aiming to make history after eliminating Morocco's FAR Rabat 4-3 on aggregate, thanks to a brace each from Fiston Mayele and Ibrahim Adel in the first leg. Orlando Pirates, champions in 1995, secured their place with a hard-fought 1-0 aggregate victory over MC Alger, aided by Moho Nkota's goal in the first leg. The team, coached by Spaniard José Rivero, will be hoping to capitalize on home advantage before the return leg in Cairo. This match presents a significant challenge for Pyramids, who lack continental experience compared to their opponents, but possess ambition backed by substantial investment. These matches come amidst escalating competition between Egyptian and South African clubs for the African football crown. Egypt has dominated the tournament in recent years, with Al Ahly winning the title five times in the last six seasons. Meanwhile, South African clubs, led by Mamelodi Sundowns (2016 champions) and Orlando Pirates (1995 champions), are striving to reclaim continental glory. The presence of two teams from each country in the semi-finals is a rare occurrence, intensifying the competition and igniting excitement among fans. Al Ahly striker Wissam Abou Ali expressed his confidence in his team's ability to achieve a positive result in Pretoria, stating on Al Ahly's official X platform: "We are ready for the challenge, and our goal is to retain the title." Pyramids FC coach, Koller, confirmed that he has devised a sound plan to counter Sundowns, focusing on exploiting spaces on the counter-attack. At the Pyramids FC camp, coach Krunoslav Jurčić indicated that his team is not afraid of Orlando Pirates, adding: "We are playing for history, and our players have the courage to pull off an upset.".
Orlando coach Rivero stressed the importance of the first leg, saying: "We will fight to gain an advantage in Johannesburg before the tough challenge in Cairo.".
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Al-Nasr officially registers David Eviato ahead of the Al-Ittihad match in the Roshan League
Learn about the details of Al-Nasr club registering player David Eviato in the local list hours before the Al-Ittihad classic in the 21st round of the Roshan League, and the details of Al-Nasr’s recent victory.

In a decisive administrative move reflecting the team's desire to strengthen its ranks and compete strongly for domestic and continental titles, Al-Nassr FC officials have successfully completed the registration of new player David Eviato in the team's local and continental rosters. This step comes at an ideal time, preceding the highly anticipated clash against Al-Ittihad FC in the 21st round of the Saudi Professional League, to be held at Al-Nassr's home ground, "Al-Awwal Park.".
The Al-Nassr vs. Al-Ittihad match holds immense importance, transcending its status as a mere three-pointer. It represents the "classic" of Saudi football, attracting a massive following both locally and regionally. Matches between these two teams are always fiercely contested and thrilling, with each side striving to assert dominance and delight their fans. This makes having all the necessary players and tactical options at the disposal of the coaching staff crucial for securing victory in such high-stakes encounters.
Informed sources within the Riyadh-based club confirmed that Al-Nassr's management exerted intensive efforts in the past few hours to ensure the player's eligibility. They successfully registered David Eviato on the approved Nigerian roster, making him available to the coaching staff before the start of the crucial match in the Roshan League. Al-Nassr officials finalized the signing of the talented David Eviato during the last winter transfer window, following successful negotiations and an agreement on all financial and contractual terms of the deal, as part of the management's efforts to inject new blood into the team.
On the technical front, Al-Nassr enters the match with high morale after securing an important victory in their last game against Al-Kholoud with a clean sheet. That match witnessed a remarkable performance from the team's stars, with the winning goal coming from Senegalese star Sadio Mane, who converted a magical and brilliant pass from his teammate Joao Felix, expertly placing it into the net, signaling the readiness of the team's attacking force ahead of the anticipated clash against Al-Ittihad.
This administrative and technical movement at Al-Nasr Club reflects the great development that Saudi football and the Roshan League competition are witnessing, as clubs are working to attract the best elements and prepare them to the highest standards to ensure competition in the long league marathon, which promises a high-level tactical and technical confrontation in the upcoming Clasico.
Sports
Tickets for the Al-Ittihad vs. Al-Gharafa match: Prices and date in the Asian Champions League
Find out the details of ticket sales for the Al-Ittihad vs. Al-Gharafa match in the AFC Champions League. Prices start from 10 riyals, and find out the date of the crucial match and the teams' standings in the group.

Saudi Arabia's Al-Ittihad Club announced on Tuesday the release of tickets for their highly anticipated match against Qatar's Al-Gharafa, as part of the seventh round of the AFC Champions League. The club's management has set promotional ticket prices starting from just 10 riyals, a move aimed at encouraging Al-Ittihad fans to attend in large numbers and support the team in this important continental encounter.
Date of the Al-Ittihad vs. Al-Gharafa match
Al-Ittihad is scheduled to host Al-Gharafa on Tuesday evening, February 10th, with kickoff at 9:15 PM. This match comes at a crucial stage of the group stage, as both teams seek to improve their chances of qualifying for the knockout rounds of the continental championship under its new "Elite" format.
The two teams' positions in the standings
Al-Ittihad enters the match in sixth place in their group standings with 9 points, accumulated from their previous victories, while Al-Gharafa of Qatar sits in ninth place with 6 points. This narrow points difference underscores the importance of the match for both sides; a win for Al-Ittihad would solidify their position in the safe zone for qualification to the next round and distance them from any complicated scenarios, while Al-Gharafa aims to close the gap and climb into the qualifying positions.
The importance of the match and the continental context
This encounter takes on special significance given the high level of competition in this season's AFC Champions League, which features the best clubs in Asia. Matches between Saudi and Qatari clubs are always highly anticipated due to their high technical level and intense rivalry. For Al-Ittihad, nicknamed "The Dean," the Asian championship represents a significant historical legacy, having won the title twice consecutively in 2004 and 2005. This year, they aim to reclaim their continental glory and compete strongly for the title.
Public support and its impact
Al-Ittihad Club relies heavily on its strongest weapon: its vast fan base, known for its significant impact on home matches. The decision to offer tickets starting at 10 riyals is a clear message from the administration to ensure the stands are packed. Everyone understands that a large crowd puts positive pressure on the players and negative pressure on the opponents, thus boosting the team's chances of securing the three points and advancing to the final stages.
Sports
Karim Benzema's stance on the Al-Hilal vs. Al-Akhdoud match in the Roshan League
Karim Benzema is confirmed fit to play for Al-Hilal against Al-Akhdoud in matchday 21 of the Roshan League. Find out coach Inzaghi's decision and the match time after the draw with Al-Ahli.

Al-Hilal fans are eagerly awaiting the final decision regarding French star Karim Benzema's availability for the upcoming match against Al-Akhdoud, part of the 21st round of the Saudi Professional League. This crucial match is scheduled for Thursday evening at Prince Hathloul bin Abdulaziz Sports City Stadium, where Al-Hilal will be looking to return to winning ways.
In welcome news for Al-Hilal fans, Karim Benzema has been definitively confirmed fit to participate in the upcoming match against Al-Akhdoud. Recent tests and training sessions have demonstrated that the player is in peak physical and technical condition, making him a valuable asset for the team's coaching staff at this crucial stage of the season. Fans are counting heavily on his international experience to secure victories in such matches.
For his part, coach Simone Inzaghi is carefully considering his tactical options. He will decide within the next few hours whether to include Benzema in the starting lineup or keep him as a valuable substitute, based on his assessment of the match situation and the player's ability to contribute effectively throughout the ninety minutes, especially given the high tempo of the games.
This match takes on added importance for Al-Hilal, especially after their disappointing draw in the last match against their arch-rivals Al-Ahli in the twentieth round, which was held at Al-Hilal's home ground, the Kingdom Arena. The team seeks to overcome the setback of the derby and appease their fans by returning with three points from Najran, to ensure they remain strongly in contention for the league title.
This match comes amidst fierce competition in the Roshan Professional League this season, which has garnered global attention thanks to attracting some of the biggest names in football. The big clubs understand that away matches against teams like Al-Akhdoud, who have the advantage of playing at home, are often crucial in the title race, placing added pressure on the players and coaches to secure a victory and avoid any surprises that could derail the team's progress.
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