Harambee Stars captain Michael Olunga’s Al Duhail will face Cristiano Ronaldo and Sadio Mane’s Al-Nassr in the Asian Champions League.
Al Duhail have been drawn in Group E with Saudi Arabian giants Al-Nassr, Iranian club Persepolis, and Tajikistan’s Esteghlal.
While the meetings against Persepolis and Esteghlal look slightly easier on paper, Hernan Crespo’s men will have their work cut out against Al-Nassr who have superstars such as Ronaldo and Mane as well as Marcelo Brozovic and defender Aymeric Laporte who swapped Manchester City for the Saudi Arabia Pro League this week.
Al Duhail reached the semi-final of the Champions League last season but their work will be made more difficult this time following the big-money outlay of Saudi Arabian teams on superstars from European teams.
Olunga bagged six goals in eight games for Al Duhail in the Champions League last season and Crespo will be leaning on him for goals once more this campaign.
Olunga had an impressive 2022-23 season, winning back-to-back Golden Boot awards, after bagging 22 goals while claiming his first Qatar Stars League title.
The striker was also the top scorer in the Ooredoo Cup with 10 goals, when Al-Duhail lifted the trophy, as well as the Qatar Cup, ending the season with 40 goals from 38 games in all competitions.
It is a record that should give their rivals, including the star-studded Al-Nassr, plenty to be worried about ahead of the continental competition.
The Kenyan striker has already shown that he is ready to maintain his lofty standards this season after scoring the opener in their 2-1 victory over Al Ahli in the season-opening league match last Friday.
