Al Ahly will be without 11 players for their Egyptian Premier League meeting with Zed on Friday, with injuries and rehabilitation programmes affecting Hussein Ammouta’s squad.
The Egyptian champions face Zed at Cairo International Stadium in the second round of the league, but will have to cope without several key players.
Among those unavailable are Moroccan pair Reda Slim and Achraf Dari, as well as Emam Ashour, Ahmed Eid and Omar Sayed Moawad.
Akram Tawfik, Mohamed Magdy “Afsha”, Karim El-Debis, Youssef Belamri, Ahmed Khaled “Kabaka” and Mohamed Abdallah are also set to miss the fixture.
The extensive list of absentees has prompted Al Ahly’s technical staff to arrange additional preparation for some of the players who are currently unavailable for competitive action.
Coach Hussein Ammouta has scheduled a friendly against Delphi on Saturday, with the game intended to give several players an opportunity to regain match fitness.
Emam Ashour, Achraf Dari, Reda Slim, Ahmed Eid and Omar Moawad are among those expected to benefit from the friendly fixture.
However, Afsha will not take part in that match as he continues his recovery from a minor muscle problem.
Afsha needs three days before training return
Afsha’s absence from the Delphi friendly is due to minor pain in his adductor muscle.
A source within Al Ahly told WinWin that the midfielder requires three days before he can return to training.
That means the club will take a cautious approach with the experienced midfielder rather than risk aggravating the problem in a non-competitive match.
Afsha’s situation is among several injury updates being monitored by the Al Ahly medical and technical staff as the team manages a congested squad.
While some players are approaching a return to training, others face longer periods on the sidelines.
Kabaka and Mohamed Abdallah begin new rehabilitation phase
Ahmed Khaled “Kabaka” and Mohamed Abdallah are set to move into another stage of their rehabilitation programmes.
The pair are expected to begin gradually participating in running exercises around the pitch on Friday as they continue their recovery from injury.
The medical staff will then increase their workload depending on how the players respond to the programme.
The source said: “Kabaka and Mohamed Abdullah will begin a new phase in their rehabilitation program today, Friday, by gradually participating in running exercises around the field after recovering from their injuries, with the loads to be increased according to their response to the program set by the medical staff.”
The gradual return is intended to allow the players to rebuild their fitness without placing excessive strain on them after their injuries.
El-Debis faces at least 10 more days
Karim El-Debis faces a longer wait before he can return to full training.
The Al Ahly left-back is recovering from a hamstring strain and requires at least another 10 days before he can resume training, according to the source.
For now, El-Debis will continue with his treatment and rehabilitation programme under the supervision of the club’s medical team.
The source said: “Karim Al-Dabis needs a period of no less than 10 days before returning to training due to suffering from a hamstring strain, so the player will continue to implement his treatment and rehabilitation program during the current period.”
His absence adds to the defensive and squad-selection problems facing Ammouta ahead of the Zed match.
Belamri faces lengthy absence
The most serious injury situation concerns Moroccan defender Youssef Belamri.
The player is expected to be unavailable for a significant period after suffering an injury that requires cruciate ligament surgery in Germany.
Belamri will undergo the operation before beginning the first stage of his rehabilitation programme.
The club expects his recovery to take a considerable amount of time, meaning Ammouta will have to plan without him for the foreseeable future.
The source said: “Moroccan player Youssef Belamri will be out of the technical staff’s plans for a long period, as he will undergo cruciate ligament surgery in Germany, before beginning the first phase of his rehabilitation program, while his absence is expected to last for a long time.”
With 11 players unavailable against Zed, Al Ahly’s squad depth will be tested early in the league campaign. The club’s decision to organise the Delphi friendly also reflects its efforts to keep recovering players progressing towards competitive readiness.
While Afsha could return to training after three days and El-Debis is expected to need at least 10 more days, Belamri faces a much longer rehabilitation period following his planned surgery.
