Heavy Hitters on the Prowl: AS FAR Rabat Set to Roar versus Al Ahly with Big Bonuses on the Line

Match Preview

AS FAR Rabat, the Royal Army club, wrapped up training at the military sports complex in the Maamoura area, as they prepare for a crucial and high-stakes clash against Al Ahly of Egypt in the second round of the CAF Champions League group stage. The match will be played at the newly opened Moulay Hassan Stadium in Rabat. Spirits are high but so is tension, following a surprising defeat on the return trip from Tanzania, where Young Africans upset them in the opening round.

Kooora documented several scenes from these preparations and noted coach Santos addressing his players with a blunt objective: beat Al Ahly to spare him the imminent whiff of dismissal and to keep the club's hopes alive. The club’s leadership is also stepping in with generous financial incentives, hoping the big bonus will keep the squad focused in a tough, talent-packed group that also includes JS Kabylie of Algeria.

AS FAR Rabat will line up with a full squad except for Hamza Khabba, suspended after accumulating yellow cards. The starting XI is expected to be captained by Rabie Harimat, who should join the team along with three others immediately after the match as they prepare to travel for the Moroccan reserves’ next assignment in the Arab clubs tournament in Qatar.

Powerful attack ahead

The team is reportedly set to deploy an aggressive front line against Al Ahly, driven by the knowledge that any result short of victory could jeopardize Santos’ job. Nouh, the Mauritanian, has been added to the squad after being unavailable for the Tanzania trip to stay with his national team for the playoff to the Arab Championship in Qatar.

And Nouh’s presence continues: the backline and front line are intact with no injuries currently listed, including Abdelfattah Hadraf who has recently recovered from surgery and Mohsen Bourika who joined from Sion to bolster the attack.

Santos also leans on Rabie Harimat, Ahmed Hamoudan, and Youssef Fahli—last season’s Moroccan top scorer—to spearhead the attack and upset Al Ahly, hoping to improve their position in the group. The mood in training has been intense, with every player aware that this could be the moment to stamp their name on Africa’s stage.

Attendance and atmosphere

Attendance is expected to be huge: 23,000 spectators are set to pack Moulay Hassan Stadium after tickets sold out quickly online. The atmosphere promises to lift the team, as fans promise a wall of colour and a mosaic of tifos designed to recall the club’s continental glory, including Morocco’s 1985 African Cup.

Following their return from Zanzibar and the humbling defeat to Young Africans, the club president and board members held a private session with Santos, reminding him that his future at the club is linked to beating Al Ahly. The players themselves also came under scrutiny after dips in form in recent league games and during the Tanzania trip; some could face exits before the winter transfer window if progress stalls.

Nevertheless, the club has promised a hefty bonus beyond the usual top end for this match, though the exact amount remains under wraps. Sources say the sum would dwarf what the club awards after typical continental wins at home.

Currently, AS FAR Rabat sits third in the group, edging Shabab Al Kabylie on goal difference, while Al Ahly leads and Young Africans are close behind with three points each.

Punchlines

Sniper’s note: If football were a bank, the bonuses would be the interest—and Al Ahly might be overdrawing this time around. Sniper’s second line: The fans bring the noise, the players bring the drama; the coach just brings the whistle and hopes the game finally starts listening.