Tunisian side Esperance have confirmed their travel plans to Cairo ahead of their highly anticipated CAF Champions League quarter-final second leg against Al Ahly.
The team is expected to arrive in Egypt on Thursday via private plane, as part of preparations for the decisive encounter scheduled for Saturday evening at Cairo International Stadium.
Esperance head into the match holding a narrow advantage after securing a 1-0 victory in the first leg in Tunisia.
Travel plans confirmed
According to reports from Nessma Sport, Esperance will travel to Cairo on a private aircraft in order to optimise their preparations for the match.
The decision to arrive early is intended to give players sufficient time to rest and recover before the high-stakes fixture against the Egyptian side.
By travelling ahead of the game, the Tunisian club aims to ensure that the squad is in the best possible condition for the second leg of the quarter-final.
Advantage after first leg victory
Esperance come into the return fixture with a slight edge following their win in the first leg, which took place at the Rades Stadium in Tunisia.
The 1-0 result has placed the Tunisian team in a favourable position, although the tie remains open as Al Ahly will have the advantage of playing at home in the second leg.
With only one goal separating the two sides, the outcome of the quarter-final remains uncertain heading into the match in Cairo.
Match details and timing
The second leg between Al Ahly and Esperance is scheduled to take place on Saturday, March 21.
Kick-off is set for 10 pm Cairo time at Cairo International Stadium, where both teams will compete for a place in the semi-finals of Africa’s premier club competition.
The fixture is expected to draw significant attention, given the stature of both clubs and their history in the CAF Champions League.
Semi-final implications
The winner of the tie between Al Ahly and Esperance will progress to the semi-finals, where they will face the winner of the quarter-final between South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns and Mali’s Stade Malien.
That match-up adds further significance to the encounter, as both teams will be aiming to continue their journey towards the final of the competition.
High stakes ahead of decider
With the first leg narrowly decided, the return match in Cairo is set to be a crucial test for both sides.
Esperance will look to protect their advantage and secure qualification, while Al Ahly will attempt to overturn the deficit in front of their home supporters.
As preparations continue, Esperance’s early arrival in Cairo highlights the importance of the match and the level of planning required ahead of one of the most significant fixtures of the CAF Champions League quarter-finals.
