ABU DHABI // Al Ain and Al Wahda meet for the second time in two weeks on Friday with both severely hampered because of national team call-ups and injuries.
Wahda inflicted Al Ain’s first defeat in the Arabian Gulf League this season at the end of last month and will be looking to replicate that 2-1 success when they host their rivals again at Al Nahyan Stadium in the Arabian Gulf Cup.
Al Ain are the worst hit of the two teams as they have 11 players on national duty including their star Nigerian forward Emmanuel Emenike.
“We know we travel with a depleted squad but I have a lot of confidence with our bench strength,” said Zlatko Dalic, the Al Ain coach.
“Teams like Al Ain are worst affected in the cup games as we have a majority of the players in the national team. That’s something we can be proud of.
“However, this is also an opportunity for the reserves to prove they too are made up of sterner stuff. It is in games like against Wahda they can rise to the occasion.”
Wahda and Al Ain are both looking for their first win in Group B. Wahda will be without their marquee signing Jorge Valdivia, who is with the Chile national team for their 2018 World Cup qualifier against Brazil.
Wahda are also without the services of several key players through injury, with Hussain Fadhel, the Kuwaiti centre-back, and Emiratis Ahmed Al Akbari, Ismail Matar, the captain, and Hamdan Al Kamali all ruled out.
In Friday’s other Arabian Gulf Cup fixtures, Al Wasl will be at home to Baniyas while Al Shaab make the long journey to Al Dhafra.
Al Shabab will be hoping to consolidate their position at the top of Group B when they face Al Jazira at home on Saturday.
Sharjah meet Dibba and Al Ahli play Al Nasr in Saturday’s late matches.
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @NatSportUAE
