With the increase in Corona virus infections in Morocco, it seems the closest to postpone the African Champions League semi-finals again.
Therefore, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) listened to the opinion of the clubs continuing in the tournament, Al-Ahly agreed to the postponement, while Zamalek rejected it.
FilGoal.com went to ask the Egyptian football stars about their opinion, is the postponement better or worse for the two Egyptian teams?
Tariq Al-Sayed told FilGoal.com: “It is natural for African matches to be played on time so as not to create a crisis at the start of the new league, and so that the launch date of the CAF Champions League next season is not affected.”
“The pandemic still exists and will not end now. Why were the match dates set two months ago? Zamalek has the right to refuse to postpone,” he added.
And he asked, “Europe has resumed activity despite the second wave of the Corona virus. We watched the European Nations League matches, although it is a new tournament, but they decided to play. Why do they want to postpone the African Champions League?”
On the travel crisis to Morocco due to aviation problems, he said: “The solution may be to travel by private plane to Morocco. Why shouldn’t Al-Ahly travel with Zamalek in the same plane?”
And he continued, “Raja does not have players to face Zamalek? Al-Ahly refused to postpone the Al-Masry match despite the latter’s players being infected with the virus, and despite the club’s management had submitted documents indicating the existence of Corona cases before the Ismaili and Al-Ahly matches. Al-Masry players fall to the ground after each match because of fatigue. Why are double standards met ? “.
He continued, “If the Wydad players continue to be infected with the Corona virus, when will we play? Postponement will harm the next season as well.”
He explained, “Zamalek will stand next to all clubs. If CAF decides to play, he will play, and if he decides to postpone, he will agree to the decision.”
He added, “Everyone is looking for his interest. The teams will comply with the CAF decision if it is officially issued, but Zamalek’s interest is to play now because the team members are very ready.”
“At the moment, Zamalek is the best technically and morally, but Al-Ahly has many problems, including being affected by the departure of players, including the instability of the team’s performance in the league, where it wins hard.”
And he continued, “Patrice Carteron pushes the junior players to avoid stress before the African matches, but he must not lose a large number of them in the same match so that he does not lose points, as happened in the match between Egypt.”
And about why Zamalek refuses to postpone despite the presence of injuries in the team? He said: “The injured will return during the coming period and before the Wydad match.”
Al-Sayed believes, “Postponing the tournament is in Al-Ahly’s interest, because the injured will return and will be prepared to play in Africa.”
“The postponement also concluded that the league matches will be played during the period in which the African matches will be played, which makes the season end early and gives players a chance to rest for the new season.”
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