Egyptian referee Gehad Zaghloul Grisha has been handed the CAF Champions League first round first leg fixture between Kenya’s Gor Mahia and Esperance du Tunis at Machakos’ Kenyatta Stadium Wednesday next week.
He will be assisted by Morocco’s Redouane Achik and Waleed Ahmed Ali as first and second assistant referees respectively.
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41-year-old Gehad is one of Egypt and Africa’s top referees and, alongside Zambia’s Janny Sikazwe, Bakary Papa Gassama of Gambia among others, will represent Africa at this year’s World Cup in Russia.
Gehad has twice officiated at the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) and also took charge of a number of World Cup qualifiers.
The Cairo-born referee is not new to presiding over matches involving Esperance or North African clubs in the CAF interclub competitions.
He was the center referee when Esperance drew Moulodia Bejaia of Algeria to bow out of the 2016 CAF Confederations Cup.
In last year’s campaign he oversaw 3-1 win for South Africa’s Supersport United away to Club Africain in Tunisia.
Gor and Esperence last met in 2014 with the blood and gold winning 8-2 on aggregate.
The giants of their countries were then facing each other in 27-years since the 1987 CAF Winners Cup finals which Gor won on away goal’s rule for their first ever continental glory.
The bitter-sweet memories are expected to be evoked as they renew rivalry on Wednesday in Machakos town in the Eastern part of Kenya.
The return match will take place on 17th March 2018 in Tunis. The aggregate winner will sail through to the lucrative Champions League groups stage.
