Egyptian champions Ahly said on Tuesday that security authorities have approved increasing the number of fans who attending Saturday s crucial Champions League home match against JS Saoura of Algeria from 10,000 to 15,000, the Cairo giants announced on Tuesday.
"We received official approval to increase the fans at the match at Alexandria s Borg El-Arab Stadium to 15,000 instead of the previously approved number [10,000]," Ahly said in a statement on its official website.
"We would like to thank the authorities for supporting Ahly as Egypt s sole representative at the champions league by responding to the club s request to increase the number of supporters in the stands," the statement added.
Ahly need to beat Saoura at home on Saturday in their final group-stage encounter to ensure their progress to the knockout phase.
The eight time African champions lost in the last two appearances in the finals in 2017 and 2018.
Egyptian authorities have limited in recent years the number of fans at African games and national team matches for security concerns.
In the last two weeks, Ahly was dealt two blows in their quest to reach the finals after they lost back-to-back in Group D: 1-0 to Tanzania s Simba then 1-0 to DR Congo s Vita Club.
These losses left the Cairo giants second in their group with seven points, one point behind leaders JS Saoura of Algeria, who defeated fourth-placed Simba 2-0 late on Saturday, while Vita Club are on level with the Cairo giants.
