Morocco and Al Ain player Soufiane Rahimi shared his thoughts on the clash against Al Ahly after the first-round victory over Auckland City.
Al Ain thrashed Auckland City 6-2 in the first round of the competition, with Rahimi coming off the bench to score the fourth and sixth goals, helping his team advance.
In a post-match interview with Abu Dhabi Sports TV, Rahimi said: “The game started easy, but after they scored a goal, we lost a bit of control. The most important thing is that most of the players scored and gained confidence. Hopefully, we will approach the upcoming matches with strength.
“Facing Al Ahly will be a big match, especially in Africa and in Cairo, with a huge crowd expected. Before today’s match, everyone was telling us that we had to qualify to go to Cairo, and hopefully, we’ll win there.
“I play in any position the coach assigns me. If I perform well in a position, I continue there. I love playing in attack, whether as a winger or striker. I follow the coach’s instructions, and currently, I’m playing as a striker and scoring plenty of goals.”
With this win, Al Ain has set up a second-round showdown against Al Ahly in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup, scheduled for October 29 at Cairo International Stadium.
It’s worth noting that FIFA has restructured the Intercontinental Cup. The first round saw Al Ain, the AFC Champions League winner, face Auckland City, the OFC Champions League winner, to determine who would advance.
The winner, Al Ain, will now face Al Ahly (CAF Champions League winner) at Cairo International Stadium. The next stage will feature the South American champion facing Pachuca, the North American champion, in a one-off match.
The tournament will conclude with a playoff match on December 14, 2024, followed by a final on December 18, where Real Madrid, the UEFA Champions League winners, will play the winner at Lusail Stadium in Doha.