Al-Hilal Sudanese Team to get to the Group Stage of the African Cup Champions League

Al-Hilal Sudanese’s coach Nabil Alkoki highly appreciated and thanked his players for their brilliant performance on Saturday’s game draw 2/2 with Port Louis of Mauritius. The game was part of the second-leg of the African Champions League 2017 round of 32 in Mauritius. Al-Hilal took the lead through midfield professional Ghanaian player Ogstin Okra, who managed to score on the spot in the 13th minute, then Bish succeeded to score the second and third goal before the break.

Therefore, Al-Hilal booked his place in the group stage of the African Champions League after beating Port Louis in the first match at Al-Hilal Stadium in Khartoum, Sudanese Capital, three - nil. Hence Mauritius' Port Louis left the tournament after 5/2 on aggregate loss. “The game was very tough, but we managed to achieve our target” Alkoki told Shrooq TV after the game. He added, "our players played an amazing game in the second half, after they lost 2/0 in the first half. Mohamed Ahmed Bashir and Tetteh managed to score twice - 75th and 78th minute. The midfielder Nazar Hamid missed out great opportunities to score twice for Al-Hilal in the last five minutes of the match.

The 47-year-old Tunisian coach charged the match referee of turning down a clear penalty for Al-Hilal in the second half. He said: “we had a chance to win against Port Louis team and make the game easier in Mauritius, but the referee ignored clear penalty for Al-Hilal in the second half”.

However, Al-Hilal intensified its presence in the midfield to control the game and to reach its target. The first leg matches of the group stage of the African Champions League will take place next May.

Regarding the next stage, which is the group stage of the African Champions League, Al-Hilal team will hold a closed camp either in Morocco or South Africa in preparation for the next games. Al-Hilal's doctor said: “the squad could miss the striker Edwardo Sadomba in the next game in the local Premier League due to a calf injury. The midfielder Bisha is fit to participate in the local tournament and African Champions League games after recovering from his own injury”. He added: "Edwardo Sadomba participated in the last training, but he is still suffering from his injury and will likely not be fit to play in the next Sudanese’s Premier League games - the local league - but the medical team will do their best to prepare Sadomba for the next tough games in the African Champions League.

On the other hand, Al-Hilal's captain Modather Karica trained well with his team in Mauritius and he could have participated in the game against Port Louis after recovering from an injury that side lined him from the previous training sessions. But the team manager preferred him not to play until he is fully recovered and a hundred percent fit. Currently, Al-Hilala holds the first position in the Sudanese Premier League table with 30 points after playing 13 games.

Al-Hilal Sudanese team was about to win the African title twice, when they played the final match against Egypt's Al-Ahly in 1987 and the second final against Al Rajaa Albidawi’s of Morocco in 1992.