CAF asks Egypt to guarantee security ahead of Champions League matches

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has asked Egypt to provide security guarantees before Cairo duo Ahly and Zamalek begin their African Champions League campaign, the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) said on Wednesday.

 

Ahly, the record winners of Africa’s premier club competition with six titles under their belt, host TP Mazembe of DR Congo in their opening Group B campaign on 8 July amid lingering concerns about security in Egypt.

 

Domestic football activities have been suspended since February’s disaster in Port Said with Ahly, Zamalek and Egyptian national teams having to play their home games in African and international competitions behind closed doors.

 

"CAF has sent the Egyptian FA a letter, demanding that authorities secure Ahly’s game against Mazembe and Ahly’s game against Zamalek [both in Cairo]," the EFA said on its official website.

 

"The Egyptian FA forwarded the letter to Ahly and Zamalek to take the appropriate measures."

 

The first Egyptian president following the 2011 uprising should be announced on Thursday, with the Muslim Brotherhood’s Mohamed Mursi and ex-prime minister Ahmed Shafiq vying for the hot seat.

 

It remains to be seen whether football activities will be resumed soon. The interior ministry has insisted repeatedly that it will not secure any games unless Egyptian clubs adhere to 10 new safety requirements.

 

Ahly and Zamalek were drawn in Group B of the Champions League along with Mazembe and Ghana’s Chelsea.