CAIRO: Ismaili preferred to avoid facing Ahly in the CAF Champions League group stage, while the Reds seem relieved after the draw.
The bitter rivals were drawn together in Group B of the last eight phase, along with JS Kabylie of Algeria and Nigeria’s Heartland.
"To be honest, we didn’t want to be with Ahly so that both teams could have a better chance of reaching the semis," Ismaili assistant coach Ashraf Khedr told FilGoal.com.
"Anyways we are past this now and have to focus on the task ahead because we want the title."
Benefit
On the contrary to the view from Ismailia, Ahly team coordinator Sayed Abdul-Hafiz sees it as a positive outcome for both teams.
"It is a benefit for both teams to be drawn together," said the former Ahly midfielder, who won the trophy as a player in 2001.
"The two teams know each other well, and hopefully we’ll qualify together to the semi-finals."
