DUBAI // Bolstered by dreams of ending their 25-year wait for a trophy, Al Nasr will be hoping to overcome Al Ain, and the absence of three key players, and make it to the final of the President's Cup for the first time since 1996/97.
Nasr’s last domestic silverware was the 1988/89 President’s Cup and they have reached the final of the tournament only twice since – in 1991/92 and again five years later.
They have struggled to reach even the last-four of the tournament in recent times, with just a solitary appearance over the last decade: in 2005/06, when they lost 3-2 to Thursday night’s opponents.
Facing Al Ain, who have won five President’s Cups since Nasr’s last triumph 26 years ago, the Dubai club will be missing two key midfielders through suspension: Leonardo Lima and Tariq Ahmed.
The participation of Brazilian midfielder Eder Luis is also in doubt as the winger is recuperating from an abductor muscle injury.
“We know the importance of this game and we hope Eder can play some part,” said team manager Khalid Obaid. “But he has not trained with team until now and we cannot take a chance if he has not recovered fully.”
Al Ain have no such worries and manager Quique Sanchez Flores is looking to unleash his newest weapon, the Belgian international Yassine El Ghanassy, who joined the team on the eve of their last Arabian Gulf League clash against Al Dhafra on loan from Gent.
“He is a skilled player with great abilities,” Sanchez Flores said. “So we are going to use him against Nasr.”
arizvi@thenational.ae
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