Moghreb Tetouan faces the Egyptian club Smouha on Sunday evening, on the first day of the group stage of the CAF Champions League.
The Tetouanis will try to bring back a precious victory from Alexandria, in order to start their march towards their set goal in the best possible way: the semi-finals of the African competition. MAT experienced a mishap on board the plane that transported it to Egypt. Since there was a complaint from the captain for "bad behaviour" by some members of the delegation.
After two months of waiting, the most prestigious club competition on the mother continent resumes its rights. This Sunday, for the first day of the group stage of the CAF Champions League, Moghreb Tetouan faces the Egyptian club Smouha in Alexandria. A duel between two newcomers at this stage of the competition who hope to create a surprise in Group A, which also includes TP Mazembe from DR Congo and Al Hilal from Sudan. Two big African guns.
Without Hidalgo or Mamouni, both injured, but having been able to recover the internationals called up for the national team, Moghreb Tetouan observed a final training session at Saniet R’mel on Tuesday evening, before taking a flight to the Egyptian capital. But the arrival of the MAT delegation in Cairo was most eventful. Indeed, a press release published on the club's official website indicates that upon landing at "Borj Al Arab" airport, the members of the delegation were met by law enforcement, who were preparing to question them, following a complaint filed by the plane's captain. Still according to the account of "Matfoot.com", the chief flight attendant reportedly reported to the pilot "undisciplined" actions by members of the team, which were "disturbing" the other passengers. After 45 minutes of "negotiations", the small crisis was resolved when officials convinced the captain to withdraw the complaint. It should be noted that the press release published on the Moghreb Tetouan website clearly criticises one of the flight attendants for having "hindered the MAT's journey (...) by prohibiting the movements of the members of the delegation, who are accustomed to taking photos during their travels". The MAT officials still praised the Egyptian law enforcement officers who "behaved in an exemplary manner, in the face of such a situation".
After this eventful journey, the MAT delegation was able to reach its place of residence in Cairo, from where it will head to Alexandria on Saturday. Thursday evening, 21 players took part in the first recovery session, led by Sergio Lobera, at the "Air Defence" stadium.
Qualified for the group stage after eliminating Al Ahly, MAT hopes to be able to return from Alexandria with the same joy that marked their return from Cairo last April. Especially since the club that the "Rojiblancos" are facing is far from the state of grace that marked its start to the year and its past season. After 36 days of the Egyptian championship, Smouha occupies the unglamorous 12th place in the general classification. In addition, the Alexandrians lost against Raja Matrouh, triggering a real crisis between the team's coach Helmy Tolan and the club's president, Farag Amer. The latter accuses the technician of having left the team's concentration in a hotel in the city by the Mediterranean, while also accusing him of organising "dubious recruitment of injured players". For his part, Tolan denies all these allegations, specifying to the local press that he was "surprised to see a president make these kinds of accusations, while his team is approaching one of the most important matches in its history". Rumours even mentioned an imminent resignation of the coach, 48 hours before the kick-off of the match. Earlier on Sunday, TP Mazembe hosts Al Hilal in the other Group A match. On Saturday, the title holder, Entente de Setif, hosts USM Alger at the 8 May 1945 stadium, in an Algerian derby that promises sparks. The third Algerian representative in the competition will travel to
Al Merreikh of Sudan.
With what state of mind is MAT approaching this match against Smouha?
We are going to Egypt with the firm intention of winning. I think we are all motivated and mobilised to achieve the goal we set for ourselves before starting the competition, which is to reach at least the semi-finals. We will need to collect the maximum number of points for that, and it is only with victories that we can reach our destination.
You are one of the MAT players who are very much in demand. With Jahouh, Aberhoun, and El Yousfi, you have almost had no rest this season. How do you feel physically?
It is true that we have played a lot throughout the year. Whether in the championship, the Throne Cup, or the Champions League. We also want to show our best level, after the elimination in the Club World Cup. You know, we worked hard to reach this stage of international professionals. For me, motivation and mentality count much more than physical form. If the morale is good, we won't feel any fatigue.
MAT and Smouha are the two clubs in Group A to have never played at this stage of the competition. Can the element of surprise still serve you?
I prefer that we look at it from another point of view. The 8 teams that have reached the group stage are the best teams on the African continent. Even if we, for example, eliminated Al Ahly, that does not make us a team superior to the others. I think what motivates our team the most is the desire to make the history of Moghreb Tetouan. I hope we will succeed.
