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Page last updated at 17:43 GMT, Thursday, 5 February 2009

Aboutrika misses Super Cup clash

Aboutrika (right) in action at the Club World Cup last December
Aboutrika (right) in action at the Club World Cup last December
BBC African Footballer of the Year Mohamed Aboutrika will miss Friday's African Super Cup clash between Al Ahly of Egypt and CS Sfaxien of Tunisia.

The Al Ahly striker has been dropped by coach Manuel Jose, who does not want Aboutrika to worsen a muscle injury by playing.

The annual one-off game pits the African Champions League winners against the Confederation Cup holders.

Al Ahly are aiming to win the Super Cup for a record fourth time, and have the benefit of home advantage, as the game takes place at the Cairo International Stadium.

The away team has not won the trophy since 1998 when Etoile du Sahel of Tunisia beat Morocco's Raja Casablanca on penalties.

Aboutrika's absence will boost the confidence of CS Sfaxien, as his injury-time goal denied them victory against Al Ahly in the 2006 Champions League final.

The BBC's Inas Mazhar in Cairo says that more than 500 CS Sfaxien fans have travelled to watch the match, and that while the team is showing respect to Al Ahly, they are eager for revenge.

Al Ahly won a record sixth Champions League title last November with a 4-2 aggregate victory over Coton Sport of Cameroon.

They share the Super Cup record of three wins with fellow Egyptians Zamalek.

CS Sfaxien became the first club to successfully defend the Confederation Cup last November, beating Etoile du Sahel on away goals.

But they are now without Ghanaian striker Agyemang Opoku, who has moved to Qatar.

His replacement Ousmaila Baba from Coton Sport has made an impression with Sfaxien, however.

Besides the absence of Aboutrika, both teams have full-strength sides for the match, which kicks off at 1730 GMT.

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see also
Aboutrika triumphs in BBC poll
16 Jan 09 |  African
Aboutrika speaks on BBC award
17 Jan 09 |  African
Coton Sport 2-2 Al Ahly
16 Nov 08 |  African
Sfaxien retain Confederation Cup
22 Nov 08 |  African


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