Al Ahly head coach Hussein Ammouta is considering several changes to his starting line-up for Sunday’s CAF Confederation Cup meeting with Uganda’s Kitara, with midfielder Marwan Attia among those expected to be rested.
The Egyptian side will host Kitara at Cairo Stadium in the second leg of the final preliminary round, having secured a 2-1 victory in the first leg in Uganda.
According to a source at Al Ahly, the coaching staff wants to manage the workload of key players following a demanding run of fixtures while giving other members of the squad an opportunity to feature.
The planned changes come as Al Ahly prepare for two important matches in quick succession, with the team scheduled to face Al Qanah on Wednesday evening in the seventh round of the Egyptian League before turning its attention to the continental encounter.
Ammouta’s final selection will depend partly on how the players recover from the league fixture, with the coach keen to preserve the squad’s physical condition without compromising the club’s chances of advancing in Africa.
Ammouta considers resting Marwan Attia
Marwan Attia is among the players being considered for a rest against Kitara as Al Ahly seek to avoid placing excessive demands on their regular starters.
The source told Winwin that the decision forms part of the technical staff’s wider plan to manage the players’ physical condition during a busy period.
Attia has been identified as one of the players who could be left out of the starting line-up, although the final team selection has yet to be confirmed.
Goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir has also been granted special leave to attend his wedding. According to the source, the arrangement has been made around the player’s personal circumstances, with the coaching staff ensuring that it does not disrupt preparations for upcoming matches.
Al Ahly are expected to assess the situation further after Wednesday’s league game before finalising their plans for the return leg.
Koka and Yasser Ibrahim could return
The Kitara fixture could also provide an opportunity for Ahmed Nabil Koka and Yasser Ibrahim to regain match fitness after their respective injury problems.
The coaching staff is considering giving both players some playing time as they work towards returning to regular action.
Their possible involvement would allow Ammouta to assess their readiness for a full return while gradually rebuilding their fitness through competitive minutes.
Mohamed Abdullah and Ahmed Kabaka are also being considered for inclusion in the matchday squad.
The two players could be given an opportunity to feature for part of the game, depending on how the match develops and the coach’s tactical decisions.
However, their involvement is not guaranteed, as the technical staff is yet to make a final decision on the composition of the squad.
Al Ahly await final fitness assessments
The source indicated that Ammouta will make his final decisions after evaluating the players’ physical condition following the match against Al Qanah.
The coach will also consider the tactical requirements of the Kitara fixture before deciding which players to rest and which ones to include in the starting line-up.
Al Ahly’s immediate objective is to protect their advantage from the first leg and secure progression to the next round of the CAF Confederation Cup.
Their 2-1 away victory gives them a narrow lead heading into Sunday’s match, but the Egyptian side will still need to complete the job at home.
The planned rotation reflects the club’s attempt to balance its commitments across competitions while ensuring that players who have seen limited action receive opportunities to contribute.
With the final line-up still undecided, the outcome of Wednesday’s league match and the subsequent fitness assessments are expected to influence Ammouta’s selection for the decisive encounter with Kitara.
