JEDDAH, 13 February 2007 — The Arab Champions League action resumes today after more than a month’s beak. Al-Nasr and Al-Ahli open their Group A and Group B second round campaign against Al-Faisali of Jordan in Riyadh and CA Bordj Bou Arreridj in Jeddah.
The Jeddah-based Ahli team got off a very good start in the group against Qadisiya of Kuwait thrashing them 6-0 at Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium in Jeddah on December 11. Striker Malek Muaz scored four goals in that match. Ahli suffered a 1-0 defeat in the second match against CA Bordj Bou Arreridj in Algeria on Dec. 19 and on Jan. 3 they dropped a 1-0 decision against El Zamalek of Egypt in Egypt 1-0 on a Mustapha Jafar goal.
Entering today’s match, Ahli are in last place with 3 points from one win and two defeats while CA Bordj Bou Arreridj hold the lead with 5 points.
CA Bordj Bou Arreridj defeated Ahli 1-0 and tied their two other matches against Qadisiya 1-1 and El Zamalek 2-2. Despite the huge upset by Ahli in the first match, Qadisiya came back strong in the second match and defeated El-Zamalek 2-1 in Kuwait then drew with CA Bordj Bou Arreridj 1-1 in Kuwait. Qadisiya are third with 4 points equal with El Zamalek who are in second place because of goal difference.
A mere 2 points separate the leading team from the bottom team which in the language of football is no guarantee of success for the first team and a big hope for the last team. CA Bordj Bou Arreridj are looking to secure the game 3 points to cement their grip on first place.
The task will not be easy for the Algerian team given that they will be up against an Ahli club with the home-field advantage and brimming with confidence after winning the Prince Faisal ibn Fahd Cup competition.
More than 20,000 Ahli fans are expected to attend the match to cheer their team to victory, the game three points and the first place in the standings.
Any result other than that won’t help the Ahli bid to improve their position and qualify for the semifinals. Ahli will be without six of their main players for the match. Saheb Al-Abdullah and Tayseer Al-Jasim, both midfielders, will not start because of two yellow cards each received in the last match. Ahli defender Al-Hazzazi is out after being red carded the last time. Ahli Al-Abdali is in the injured list while team captain Hussein Abdul Ghani and Turki Al-Thagafi are serving out suspensions by the Arab Federation for bad behavior against the Algerian team. The Riyadh-based team Nasr are also in dire straits against Al-Faisali of Jordan. Nasr have dropped to 11th position in the local Saudi league standings and in danger of relegation. In contrast, Al-Faisali are in first place with 9 points and undefeated. Al-Faisali swept the first round of the group stage beating the teams by identical 1-0 scoreline. Al-Faisali need only 3 points to officially qualify as first of the group and even before the end of second round of group matches.
Al-Faisali should have no trouble beating Nasr and qualify early.
To compound Nasr’s woes, Abdul Rahman Al-Bishi, Muhsin Al-Qarni, Hasan All-Juwaiher and Muhammad Al-Khojali are doubtful starters because of injuries.
Nasr’s only option is a win and a defeat or draw raises the prospect of an early exit from the competition.
ES Setif are second in Group B standings with 4 points from one win against Nasr, 2-1, a defeat against Al-Faisali 1-0 and a draw against Kuwait of Kuwait 0-0.
ES Setif are looking to qualify as second from the group. Nasr are third with 3 points from two losses and one win and Kuwait of Kuwait are last with one point from a draw against ES Setif 0-0 and two defeats against Al-Faisali 1-0 and against Nasr 3-0.
