"I expect a sell-out crowd at Cairo Stadium on Sunday but the spectators need to go easy on the players and be patient," he told Modern TV.

"Ahli have won a lot of titles as a result of their fans' support, so now I'm asking them to stand by the team once again."

The six-time African champions were given a timely morale boost upon laboring to a 2-1 win over Military Production in their last Egyptian Premier League match.

"The players are extremely spirited and that gives me a push ahead of the game," Al-Badri added.

Over the past few months, Ahli have been slated for a poor run of form and a host of lackluster performances on all fronts, with Al-Badri having the lion's share of criticism.

His future might largely depend on the outcome of his side's two-legged clash against Tunisian outfit Esperance in the Champions League semi-finals.

Geddo still Doubtful

Ahli forward Geddo remains a doubt for the African tie as he's still struggling with a knee injury he sustained in the 4-2 group stage defeat at Ismaili.

"He's on the road to recovery and might be fit for the match," Al-Badri said. "He seemed to be in good condition during training on Thursday."

Influential left back Sayed Moawad was ruled out of the Esperance encounter with a hamstring strain.