Wydad Atheltic Club captain Yahya Jabrane says the absence of Al Ahly goalkeeper and skipper Mohammed El Shenawy will not change their approach in their first CAF Champions League final this evening.
The reigning champions face off against the record ten-time winners of the competition in the opening leg at the Cairo International Stadium this evening.
Ahly will be without their inspirational captain El-Shennawy but have hinted he could be ready for the return leg in Casablanca next week.
“I hope that we will win this edition of the CAF Champions League. The players do not need [extra motivation], as they are well aware of the importance of this match,” Jabrane said in the pre-match press conference.
“Mohamed El-Shennawy not available for the match will not change our focus. We have a great desire [to face] Al-Ahly.
“Wydad and Al-Ahly are two great teams at the African level, regardless of their performances in the CAF Champions League this season.
“We will finally present at a high technical level [for the supporters].”
The game kicks off this evening at the iconic venue in the capital city of Egypt at 20h00.
