Ahli manager Hossam Al-Badri voiced his concern over the speculation linking several of his players with the Olympic team, a few days before clashing with Mazembe.

Ahli open their Champions League group stage campaign with a crunch tie against four-time winners Mazembe as Egypt gear up for the Olympic Games later this month.

While the likes of Mohamed Abou-Treika, Emad Meteb and Ahmed Fathi are tipped to join the U-23s in London, Al-Badri believes it could be a major distraction for the Reds.

“The talk of Ahli players joining the Olympic team could really be harmful to us in the meantime,” the Ahli coach told the club’s website.

“We’ve got a very important game coming and we need to be calm and focused.

“I haven’t spoken with Hany Ramzy (Olympic team coach) yet and of course the Olympic team matters to me, but at the same time I have a goal to achieve in the Champions League.”

Following the Mazembe clash, Ahli will lock horns with arch-rivals Zamalek in the Champions League before Egypt open their Olympic campaign against Brazil on July 26.