Al Ahly President Mahmoud El-Khatib held a meeting with the squad today after it was announced that Morocco will host the CAF Champions League final.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) controversially announced that Morocco won the bid uncontested to host the event for the second consecutive season – this after Senegal withdrew their bid.
It sparked widespread outrage on social media, particularly from Egypt with Ahly favourites to face Wydad Athletic Club in the final, at their home ground in Casablanca, the same venue in which they defeated Kaizer Chiefs last season.
#StopCAFCorruption was the number one trending hashtag on Twitter globally shortly after the events transpired with many suggesting the influence of the Morrocan Football Federation influenced the CAF executive committee to support their bid.
Amidst all the drama, ‘Bibo’, has now called for calm. He held extensive talks on Tuesday with the Egyptian Minister of Youth and Sports, Dr Ashraf Sobhy, Gamal Allam the president of the Egyptian Football Association and ‘several’ authorities pertaining to the club’s stance on not having a neutral venue.
After this and meeting with the club’s board, he is said to have contacted legal experts to analyse what their options are before their next board meeting in an attempt to fight against the CAF decision.
But prior to Pitso Mosimane and his troops leaving for Algiers this afternoon for their 2nd leg Champions League semi-final with ES Setif, he issued a reminder to the squad not to focus on that board room battles as they are not in the final yet – stating there’s no room for error despite their four-goal lead from the 1st leg in Cairo.
