Al Ahly will travel to Barcelona on Monday ahead of their high-profile friendly against Barcelona at Camp Nou next Wednesday, with Imam Ashour unlikely to start because he has not yet reached full physical and technical readiness.
The Egyptian side are currently holding a closed training camp in Spain, which is scheduled to continue until 20 August, as the club prepares for the new season.
The coaching staff, led by Moroccan manager Hussein Ammouta, have already used two friendlies to assess the squad during the camp.
Al Ahly began their programme with a 3-0 victory over Badalona, with Ali Mahmoud, Aktai Abdullah and Ahmed Sayed Zizo scoring.
They then suffered a 2-1 defeat by Europa in their second match.
The team will continue training in Spain before departing for Barcelona on Monday evening. According to information provided by an Al Ahly source, the squad will have one training session in Barcelona before taking on Barca at Camp Nou.
The team will then return to Cairo on a private plane ahead of the start of the league campaign.
Ammouta focuses on fitness and tactics
With the Barcelona match approaching, Al Ahly’s remaining sessions will focus on several areas, including improving the players’ physical condition and working on technical and tactical aspects of their game.
The coaching staff are also assessing the condition of the entire squad before deciding which players will feature from the start against Barcelona.
A source at Al Ahly said Ammouta has been satisfied with the work carried out during the Spanish training camp so far.
The manager has also been encouraged by the opportunities to assess several of the club’s recent additions during the friendly matches.
Among those involved have been Mounsef Bekar and Soufiane Benjedida, while Akram Tawfik has also featured after joining Al Ahly on a free transfer.
Their involvement has given Ammouta additional information as he continues to shape his squad ahead of the competitive season.
The Barcelona friendly will provide another opportunity for the coaching staff to assess the players against high-level opposition.
Imam Ashour unlikely to start
One of the main issues surrounding Al Ahly’s preparations is the fitness of Imam Ashour.
Ashour did not feature in either of the two friendly matches played during the Spanish camp.
His absence was attributed to his lack of complete technical and physical readiness rather than a decision to rest him ahead of the Barcelona fixture.
The source indicated that, given his current condition, it would be difficult for Ashour to start against Barcelona.
That means Al Ahly’s coaching staff will have to consider other options when selecting the starting XI for the match at Camp Nou.
The friendly is nevertheless expected to form an important part of the team’s preparations, particularly as the coaching staff continue to assess the squad and work on their tactical approach.
Medical team coordinates Ashour’s surgery
Al Ahly’s medical staff are also in contact with their counterparts in the Morocco national team regarding Ashour’s cruciate ligament injury.
The two medical teams are coordinating the location and timing of the surgery required to treat the injury sustained during the training camp in Spain.
The process is being handled alongside the club’s wider preparations for the new campaign.
Ashour’s condition therefore remains an important consideration for Al Ahly as they move towards the start of competitive football.
His inability to participate fully in the Spanish camp has restricted the coaching staff’s options, while the uncertainty surrounding his surgery adds another challenge to his preparations.
Barcelona test comes before return to Cairo
Al Ahly’s immediate schedule is now centred on the trip to Barcelona.
The team will train on Saturday and Sunday before leaving Spain on Monday evening. Once in Barcelona, the players will complete one training session before facing Barcelona at Camp Nou on Wednesday.
Following the friendly, Al Ahly will fly back to Cairo on a private plane as they prepare for the start of the league competition.
The match will be the latest stage of a pre-season programme that has already included a convincing win against Badalona and a defeat against Europa.
For Ammouta, the Camp Nou fixture offers another chance to assess his players, particularly the new arrivals, while continuing to improve the team’s fitness and tactical understanding.
The immediate focus, however, will also remain on player availability.
With Ashour unlikely to start and his medical team coordinating the next steps in his treatment, Al Ahly must balance their preparations for the Barcelona encounter with the longer-term fitness of one of their players.
