Al Ahly head coach Marcel Koller has emphasized the difficulty of the Simba SC clash, highlighting the difficult weather conditions in the capital Tanzania.

The Egyptian champions will begin their title-defense campaign as they travel to Dar es Salaam to face the Wekundu wa Msimbazi in the first-leg of the CAF Champions League quarter-finals on Friday.

Speaking ahead of the game, Koller said as quoted by Kingfut: “We hope to give our all in tomorrow’s match and achieve a positive result in Tanzania that will assist us in the return-leg in Cairo,” adding: “We are playing the match amidst difficult weather conditions, with high temperatures and humidity in Tanzania, but despite this, we must give our best on the field.

“Simba is one of the strong teams and has a good group of players, and we have faced them twice this season in the African Super League. We have some influential absences, but there is confidence in every member of the team to compensate for the absences and injuries.

“All Al-Ahly players are at the same level and they can deliver what is required and achieve a positive result.”