TEHRAN – Esteghlal sporting director Nasrollah Abdollahi said that the club’s striker Mame Baba Thiam will miss Al Rayyan match.

The Iranian giant will meet the Qatari club on Monday in Tehran’s Azadi Stadium.

“Thiam will be absent in the match against Al Rayyan but he will be ready for the match with Al Hilal,” Abdollahi said.

The Senegalese striker suffered a hamstring injury which forced him to leave the field in the match against Al Ain of the UAE in Group D of the AFC Champions League.

Esteghlal will face Al Rayyan of Qatar in a crucial match on April 2 in Tehran’s Azadi Stadium.

Thiam has scored three goals for Esteghlal in the AFC Champions League and his absence would represent a major blow to his team’s hopes of reaching the knockout stage.