Al Duhail’s Karim Boudiaf celebrates in this file photo.
Doha: Al Duhail’s preparations for the away test in the AFC Champions League quarter-final have got a perfect boost with the return of Karim Boudiaf ahead of their September 17 clash against Iran’s Persepolis.
The Al Duhail play maker, who suffered an injury during Al Duhail’s Sheikh Jassim Cup loss to Al Rayyan and had to undergo surgery to his knee, returned to action on Tuesday while turning out for the national team.
Boudiaf played his part in Qatar’s 3-0 win over Palestine in an international friendly at the Khalifa International Stadium.
Coming on as a substitute, Boudiaf, did not show any ill effects of his forced lay off while impressing with his technical and physical play during the short period he was on the play field.
Al Duhail beat Persepolis 1-0 in the first leg played in Doha and a draw will be enough for the Qatar club to qualify for the last four stage.
A number of other Al Duhail players, who did duty for their countries in international friendlies, are expected to join the squad soon before Nabil Maaloul’s men travel to the Iranian capital Tehran for the clash at the famous Azadi Stadium.
The return of Boudiaf has come as a huge relief for the Al Duhail camp which has been hit by injuries to quiet a few key players like Youssef Msakni and Ismail Mohamed during the last few months.
Last season, Msakni, who played a key role in the Al Duhail goal scoring department suffered a cruciate ligament injury while at the beginning of the QNB Stars League (QSL) season, it lost the efforts of its star striker Ismail Mohamed.
The return of Boudiaf thus has come as a huge relief for the Al Duhail camp.
