By James Copnall In Cairo

Jeanne d'Arc will have to pull out all the stops to avoid a repeat of their disastrous African Champions League campaign in 2000.

With the departure of key players, the Senegalese champions lack the depth of talent and experience needed to emerge from their tough group.

Their promising midfielder Abdoulaye Diagne Faye has joined Lens, playmaker Narcisse Yameogo has gone to Spartak Moscow and Ousmane Ndoye, the Senegalese league's top player, is with French side Toulouse.

Club President Omar Seck regrets the losses but says that Jeanne d'Arc is a selling club.

"It's normal, because we are an amateur club," he told BBC Sport online.

Supply and demand

"Each time we have a serious offer from a club which can develop a player, we don't hold them back, even if we regret their departure.

"Anyway, the law of sport means people will always look for better things - just look at Bruno Metsu."

But Whether Seck will be feeling as sanguine after their match against reigning African champions Al Ahly is another matter.

The Jeanne d'Arc president said youth development is the key to the club's future.

"We will always lose players when good offers come in. It is just up to us to keep training up youngsters to replace those who leave."

Saturday's game against the best team in the continent will show if their new crop of youngsters have learnt needed lessons or require a return to football's classroom.