After a fine run of Championship form since the start of the year, the Canaries travel to Elland Road hoping to prove they can mix it with Premier League opposition when they face Daniel Farke’s side on Sunday.
For City, the prize of an FA Cup quarter-final for only the second time since 1992 is creating plenty of excitement, but overcoming another hurdle will continue to fuel the optimism that has been building since Philippe Clement’s arrival in November.
Ahmed is confident City have the quality and mentality to beat Leeds as several players experience a top-flight challenge for the first time.
“We’re all looking forward to it. We want to get as far as possible. Of course, it’s game by game and every one of us, playing against a Premier League side, we’d love to test ourselves.
“Playing away as well, it’ll be a big challenge, it’ll be fun, and we’re all looking forward to it,” the Canadian international said.
“We really, really believe that we can go, compete and go on to the next round, and that’s what we want to do, honestly.
“For me, of course, playing a Premier League team, it’s big, but I’m trying not to put too much energy into that and just try and put more energy into advancing to the next round.”
Daniel Farke’s Leeds United are yet to secure Premier League safety. (Image: PA)
City’s form has pushed them up the Championship table, with last weekend’s victory over Leicester taking them 11 points clear of the drop zone. That will enable them to put their full focus on Sunday’s trip to Elland Road.
“Everyone knows that in the past couple of months, we were a team in the bottom three, but as of late, we’ve been taking it game by game and trying to separate ourselves from that and try to look more up top than below, and I think today’s win was massive for that,” Ahmed said.
“I think we can slowly start to look up and that will allow us to go all in in the FA Cup and try and go as far as possible without being too thoughtful of relegation.”