African giants Al Ahly have seemingly been handed a big boost ahead of their FIFA Club World Cup clash against Real Madrid on Wednesday.
The Red Devils are set to face the reigning UEFA Champions League winners in the semi-final of the Club World Cup at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Morocco.
The North Africans began their campaign with a comfortable 3-0 victory over New Zealand side Aukland City, before picking a narrow victory over United States outfit Seattle Sounders in the previous round to set up a meeting with the tournament's most successful club Real, who have won the trophy a record four times (2014, 2016, 2017, and 2018).
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Los Blancos announced their squad on Monday, which has since landed in Morocco, however, there was some notable big-name absentees in the side, including the 2022 Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema.
??? Our 22 players travelling to Rabat!#ClubWC pic.twitter.com/Mg7fbCfhZl
— Real Madrid C.F. ???????? (@realmadriden) February 6, 2023
The Frenchman will miss the tie due to a knee-related injury, while defender Eder Militao is also sidelined as result of a muscle discomfort.
Furthermore, the Spanish giants will take on the Egyptian powerhouse without their No.1 Thibaut Courtois, who has been ruled out after sustaining an adductor muscle issue in the warm up for their shock 1-0 defeat to Mallorca on Sunday, with Andriy Lunin set to be between the sticks on Wednesday.
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Meanwhile, Al Ahly's Aliou Dieng has revealed that he relishes to the opportunity to Real, having successfully reached the last four for the third successive time.
"Obviously, I am so delighted as we managed to reach the semi-final again, and I am also so happy to be facing the champions of Europe Real Madrid," he told FIFA.com.
"To play against Real Madrid is the dream. If we were told that we would be playing against Real Madrid, we would reply no, you must be insane. It is really a dream come true.
"We are going to enjoy playing at the top level and see what will happen. It is a dream match against the European giants."
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