An Egyptian football icon has insisted that Mamelodi Sundowns are Al Ahly's only competition in the CAF Champions League.
The first-leg fixtures of the Champions League quarter-finals took place this weekend, with current holders Al Ahly claiming a narrow 1-0 win over Simba SC at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Tanzania.
Read: Yanga boss to Downs: The battle is not over..
Sundowns, meanwhile, were unable get a victory away from home and had to a settle for a goalless stalemate with another Tanzanian giant, Young Africans.
With both Downs and Al Ahly widely considered favourites to win the esteemed trophy, former Egypt star Reda Abdel Aal has reaffirmed the stance despite the South Africans' slight hiccup in their first leg.
"The Egyptian League has stronger teams than the teams participating in the African Champions League and Confederation Championships," the 59-year-old said on a Primo television broadcast, per msr2030.com.
"Sundowns of South Africa is Al Ahly's only competitor in the African Championship, and the rest of the teams have a modest technical level.
"The results of the Confederation's quarter-finals indicate that Zamalek and Modern Future are the strongest in the tournament."
Ahly boss Marcel Koller, meanwhile, has insisted it is too early for his side to assume a spot in the semi-finals is already theirs, and that preparations for the second leg in Cairo will be crucial ahead of Friday's return fixture against Simba.
"My players also suffered big pressures, especially the international ones who joined the team directly after finishing their international duty without a rest," the 63-year-old Swiss said, according to Ahram Online.
"Ahly didn't qualify yet for the semi-finals and we should start preparing well for the return match.
"All the team must exert extra effort in the second leg on Friday."
Read: 2x AFCON winner Renard to make stunning Africa return?
Should they win their quarter-finals, Al Ahly and Sundowns will not face each other in the semi-finals as they have separate paths to the final.
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