Al Ahli Saudi FC suffered another setback this season when French midfielder Valentin Atangana was forced off injured during their AFC Champions League Elite meeting with Al Sadd.
Atangana sustained the injury in the first half and was unable to continue, prompting Dutch manager Marino Pusic to replace him with team-mate Ziyad Al-Jehani.
The setback came only a few days after Al Ahli endured a heavy 6-1 defeat by Al Shabab in round 12 of the Saudi Pro League.
The latest injury adds to a difficult period for the club, who have been affected by uncertainty both on the pitch and behind the scenes. Pusic’s position is understood to be at risk, with the manager potentially leaving his role in the coming days.
Al Ahli’s next listed Saudi Pro League fixture is against Al Taawoun on 07 November 2026.
They are also aiming to recover their form in continental competition. Al Ahli are the champions of the last two editions of the AFC Champions League Elite and are seeking to win the trophy for a third consecutive time.
That would be an unprecedented achievement, but their preparations have now been disrupted by Atangana’s injury and the growing instability surrounding the team.
Al Sadd’s next listed fixture is against Al Rayyan in the Doha Bank Stars League on 08 November 2026.
