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Al Ahly's coach, Marcel Koller, criticizes the tight schedule of the African Football League, expressing concerns about player fatigue and fitness.
Al Ahly's head coach, Marcel Koller, has raised significant concerns about the scheduling of fixtures in the inaugural African Football League (AFL).
The Swiss gaffer believes that the demanding timetable could adversely affect his players as they gear up for a crucial quarter-final clash with Simba.
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As the African Football League prepares to kick off its first-ever edition on October 20, Al Ahly, the Cairo giants, find themselves diving headfirst into the competition with a challenging encounter against Tanzanian outfit Simba.
This quarter-final first leg will be hosted in Tanzania, followed by a swift return to Cairo for the second leg just four days later.
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Koller, a seasoned Swiss tactician, expressed his dissatisfaction with the fixture dates, emphasizing the potential negative impact on his international players, whether Egyptian or of other nationalities.
"The dates of the African Football League fixtures are not suitable. The international players, whether Egyptians or of other nationalities, will suffer because of the dense schedule," Koller voiced his apprehensions during an interview with the club's TV channel.
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With the next international break scheduled to commence on October 9, the Egyptian national team is set to hold a training camp from October 9 to 17. Koller is deeply concerned that this tight turnaround, combined with the demanding travel schedule, will take a toll on his international players.
"They did not consider the hard traveling circumstances that face the international players as moving inside Africa takes long hours. I cannot judge if my international players would be fit for the Simba game when they join my team after finishing the international camp," Koller added.
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The African Football League is a competition introduced by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in collaboration with FIFA, and it showcases eight teams from across the continent.
As the tournament gains prominence, the concerns raised by Koller underscore the importance of adequate planning and consideration of players' physical well-being in such events.
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Despite these concerns, Al Ahly has been making waves in continental football. On Friday, the defending champions secured their place in the CAF Champions League group stage by defeating Ethiopia's Saint George 4-0 in the second leg of the round of 32.
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