Al-Hilal have landed in Ghana three clear days to their penultimate group game in the 2018/19 Caf Confederation Cup against Asante Kotoko.
The Sudanese giants play guests to the Porcupine Warriors in Kumasi on Sunday, March 10 at 16:00 GMT.
In what looks like a statement of intent to secure early qualification to the quarterfinals with victory in Kumasi, the Group C leaders (with 7 points – two wins, one draw and one defeat) flew into Accra via Ethiopian Airlines Wednesday morning in a contingent of 34.
Footy-Ghana.com is informed that due to their early arrival, head coach Nabil Kouki opted to name a 22- man squad for the trip – 18 of who formed the squad that thrashed ZESCO United 3-1 at home last Sunday:
Jamal Salim, Athar Eltahir, Hussein Ibrahim, Omer Hassan, Abdellatif Boya, Nasreldin Omer, Diarra, Abu Aagla, Sharaf Abdelrahman, Waleed Hamid, Mohammed Eldai, Walaa Eldin, Faris Abdalla, Moumen Esam Mahmoud, Younis Ali, MohMss Mokhtar, Emmanuel Ariwachukwu, Geovane Maranhao.
Hilal later in the afternoon, were flown to Kumasi by their hosts Asante Kotoko via domestic airline Unity Air.
The team checked into Crystal Rose Hotel facilitated by the Sudanese Embassy in Ghana and later held a shake-up training.
Al-Hilal have chosen to hold their training sessions at the Opoku Ware High School Park on Thursday and Friday. They are however allowed access to the match venue – Baba Yara Stadium – on Saturday, March 9, per Caf rules.
Come Sunday, Asante Kotoko, second with 6 points, can assume group leadership if they win, but potential qualification for the last eight will have to wait until the final match day when they visit ZESCO United.
Hilal, on the other hand, can secure a quarterfinal spot if they win in Kumasi, regardless of the result in the other Group C match, which is a Zambian derby between Nkana and ZESCO played simultaneously in Kitwe.
Hilal beat Kotoko 1-0 when they first met in Omdurman back in early February.
Ethiopian referee Bamlak Tessema Weyesa will officiate Sunday’s reverse clash in Kumasi.
