Closed-Door Sanction Impacts AS FAR vs. Pyramids Clash
AS FAR will host Egyptian side Pyramids FC this evening, Friday, at 22:00 local time, in the first leg of the CAF Champions League quarter-finals. "The Leader" will be aiming to secure a positive result at home before the return leg in Cairo. AS FAR enters this crucial encounter with high ambitions to continue its continental journey, but will play under unique circumstances. The match is set to be held without spectators due to a closed-door sanction imposed by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), which requires the club to play three matches behind closed doors.
Coach Alexandre Santos will be forced to contend with some influential absences in his squad. Most notably, captain Mohamed Rabie Hrimat will miss the match due to suspension. Goalkeeper Reda Tagnaouti continues to be sidelined with an injury, and fellow goalkeeper Ayoub El Khayati is also nursing an injury.
Given these circumstances, AS FAR is expected to rely on young goalkeeper Abdelhakim Mesbahi, 20, who has begun to gain the trust of the technical staff. He featured in the final minutes of the "Clasico" match against Wydad AC, before starting the most recent encounter against Renaissance Zemamra, where he successfully kept a clean sheet.
AS FAR reached the CAF Champions League quarter-finals after finishing second in Group B with 9 points, behind group leaders Al Ahly. The Moroccan side recorded two wins, three draws, and one defeat, scoring 3 goals and conceding only two, in a campaign characterized by defensive solidity. Group B also included Tanzania's Young Africans and Algeria's JS Kabylie.
In contrast, Pyramids FC qualified for the same round after topping Group A with 16 points. They secured five victories and one draw without suffering any defeats, scoring 14 goals while conceding only two, thus confirming their attacking prowess during the group stage. Their group also featured Renaissance Berkane, Zambia's Power Dynamos, and Nigeria's Rivers United.
Given AS FAR's defensive solidity and Pyramids FC's attacking strength displayed in the group stage, the anticipated quarter-final clash between the two teams appears wide open.
