Al Ahly–AS FAR Sells Out as CAF Champions League Group B Decider Nears
All eyes turn to Cairo International Stadium on Sunday as Al Ahly host Morocco’s AS FAR in a high-stakes CAF Champions League group-stage finale, with top spot in Group B on the line and a capacity crowd confirmed. Tickets were snapped up within hours, while the visitors face selection headaches after key absences were confirmed.
Group B stakes: slim margins at the summit
Al Ahly lead Group B on 9 points, with AS FAR one back on 8. Young Africans sit on 5 and JS Kabylie on 3 heading into the final round. A home win would lock Al Ahly into first place, while a draw also leaves the hosts in control of the group. AS FAR must win to leapfrog into the top spot and seal a statement finish to the section.
Beyond seeding, the tone of both clubs’ continental campaigns is at stake. Al Ahly, so often comfortable at this stage of the competition, will view first place as both a target and a message. AS FAR, who have traveled confidently through the group, can transform a promising run into a group win with one decisive 90 minutes.
Ticket frenzy and a full house
Interest around the match has surged in Cairo, with seats selling out in roughly three hours after going on sale. Authorities cleared the fixture for full capacity, and the visitors have been assigned a sizable away allocation, with 4,400 tickets set aside for traveling AS FAR supporters. The atmosphere is expected to be electric, amplifying an already fraught contest between two clubs with large, passionate fan bases.
Inside the home camp, there’s a hope that the occasion can serve as a unifying moment on and off the field, with figures around the squad emphasizing the importance of a positive night that showcases the best of North African football.
Team news: AS FAR absences, Al Ahly boosts
AS FAR will be without Mohcine Boureika and Laura Gaitán for Sunday’s clash, trimming options for the Moroccan side as they finalize preparations in Egypt. The squad arrived in Cairo on Thursday and lined up three sessions in the city—beginning with gym work, followed by field sessions on Friday and a final tune-up on Saturday.
Al Ahly, meanwhile, welcomed Emam Ashour back to full training this week after a two-week suspension, a timely midfield reinforcement ahead of the group finale. The club has also been managing fitness concerns, including a hamstring strain for Trezeguet flagged in the buildup, with staff weighing risk and reward in a match where intensity will be high from the first whistle.
Beyond the immediate fitness picture, Al Ahly have moved to secure longer-term stability in goal, extending Mostafa Shobeir’s contract. The squad dynamic suggests room for tweaks, with staff evaluating balance across the back line and midfield, including flexibility in fullback roles if required.
Kickoff, venue, and matchday logistics
The match is set for Sunday at Cairo International Stadium, with kickoff at 10:00 a.m. ET. Both teams will complete their final training on Saturday before matchday routines begin early on Sunday. With the ground at capacity, match organizers have urged early arrivals to ease entry and create a vibrant pre-match atmosphere for what amounts to a de facto group title bout.
The venue’s scale and acoustics often magnify momentum swings, and early passages could be decisive. An early Al Ahly goal would tilt the tie toward the hosts’ preferred tempo, while AS FAR’s plan aims to quiet the crowd, compress space, and spring forward when opportunities arise.
What to watch on the pitch
Central midfield will likely dictate the flow. Ashour’s return adds bite and verticality to Al Ahly’s transitions, while AS FAR must compensate for their absences with disciplined structure and clear exit routes in possession. Wide channels are another battleground, with the hosts leaning on direct runners and overlaps to pull the visitors out of shape.
Set pieces loom large. With margins thin and nerves sharpened by the occasion, dead-ball efficiency could decide the outcome. Both benches will also be crucial; the second-half substitutions and in-game adjustments frequently define group finales, especially when one side is forced to chase.
As the stadium fills and the noise builds, Sunday offers a classic CAF Champions League tableau: continental heavyweights, an unforgiving margin for error, and everything to play for in a final group-stage act.
