Al Ahly opens Confederation Cup campaign away to Uganda's Kitara

Al Ahly will open its CAF Confederation Cup campaign on October 17 against Uganda's Kitara, with coach Hussein Amouta weighing an unchanged lineup.

• Al Ahly has begun preparations for the round-of-32 first leg, set for Saturday at 4 p.m. Cairo time in Uganda.
• Amouta is studying fielding the same lineup that beat Zamalek 2-0, with Yasser Ibrahim suspended two matches by CAF.
• Kitara vice-president Bernard Kanyoro said the club is capable of eliminating Al Ahly and has earmarked bonuses for players.
• Kanyoro said Kitara's goal is reaching at least the quarterfinals, and that Al Ahly will not win in Uganda.
• Ammouta announced a 24-man squad for the trip, excluding nine players including Ahmed Nabil Koka and suspended Yasser Ibrahim.
• The delegation departed Cairo on Tuesday night, flew to Entebbe, then traveled by road to Hoima ahead of Saturday's match.
• Kitara coach Wasswa Bosa said his players are fully fit and called the fixture a dream to write a page in African football history.
• The return leg is set for October 25 at Cairo Stadium, with the aggregate winner advancing to the group stage.
• The delegation arrived in Entebbe on Wednesday and stayed at Hotel Meca, avoiding the Kampala-Hoima highway due to renovations.