Al Ahly open Egyptian League Cup campaign against Petroleum Assiut

Al Ahly face Petroleum Assiut on Wednesday at Stade Al Salam in the first round of the Egyptian League Cup group stage.

• The match is the eighth between the sides; Al Ahly have won five, drawn one and lost one of the previous seven.
• Al Ahly's only loss to Petroleum Assiut came in the 2007-2008 Egypt Cup, a 1-0 defeat.
• Coach Al-Hussein Ammouta named goalkeeper Hamza Alaa for his first start in a heavily changed lineup.
• Al Ahly will be without 14 key players, including Mostafa Shobier, Mohamed Hani, Imam Ashour and Ahmed Sayed Zizo.
• Coach Al-Hussein Ammouta dropped Reda Slim from the squad, a decision that surprised his teammates and staff.
• Ashraf Dari returns to the Al Ahly defense to bolster the backline for the cup opener.
• Young goalkeeper Mohamed El-Sayed earns a place in the Al Ahly squad for the first time.
• The match kicks off at 5 PM Cairo time at the Peace Stadium in the capital.
• New signing Tawfik Mohamed makes his debut start for Al Ahly in the League Cup opener.
• Achraf Dari's return to the starting lineup is his first appearance in 270 days.
• Head coach Hussein Ammouta named nine substitutes including Mohamed El-Shenawy, Omar Maawad, Hady Riyad, Akram Tawfik and Ashraf Ben Sharqi.
• Al Ahly forward Sofian Ben Jedda starts in the lineup for the League Cup opener against Petroleum Assiut.