Record nine-time African champions Al Ahly were paired with hosts Al Duhail of Qatar in their opening FIFA Club World Cup game, with the winners scheduled to meet European champions Bayern Munich.
Ahly take on Al Duhail on 4 February at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan after the Club World Cup draw was made in Zurich on Tuesday.
The draw for the FIFA Club World Cup saw Qatar's Al Duhail, the hosts, meet Egypt's Al Ahli the African champions. The draw also saw Mexico's Tigres UANL and South Korea's Ulsan Hyundai FC play one another. #QNA
— Qatar News Agency (@QNAEnglish) January 19, 2021
The winners will set up a mouthwatering semi-final clash against Bayern.
Mexico’s Tigres UANL will face South Korean side Ulsan Hyundai FC in the other first round game, with the winners scheduled to play either Palmeiras or Santos, who clash in the Copa Libertadores final on 30 January.
Ahly, who defeated Cairo rivals Zamalek in the Champions League final in late November, made five appearances at the Club World Cup — an African record.
Their best result was a third-place finish in 2006 while their last participation in 2013 saw them lose 2-0 to China’s Guangzhou Evergrande before suffering an embarrassing 5-1 defeat by Mexico’s Monterrey in the fifth-place playoff.
