Imam Ashour has endured another frustrating injury setback after being ruled out of Al-Ahly’s meeting with Barcelona in the Joan Gamper Cup, adding to a series of major matches the midfielder has been forced to miss.
Ashour was unavailable as Al-Ahly lost 2-1 to Barcelona in Spain, with his latest absence continuing a pattern that has followed him during some of the most significant moments of his career.
The 27-year-old has repeatedly found himself unable to take part in major fixtures because of injuries, with four particular absences standing out.
Although the circumstances surrounding each setback have been different, the matches have shared one feature: they were all occasions in which Ashour had been expected to play an important role.
The Al-Ahly midfielder has established himself as a key figure for both club and country, making his repeated absences from major matches particularly frustrating.
Congo clash brought first major disappointment
One of Ashour’s most painful setbacks came in January 2024 during the Africa Cup of Nations.
The Egypt international was preparing for the Pharaohs’ last-16 meeting with the Democratic Republic of Congo when he suffered a serious head injury during training.
The timing could hardly have been worse.
Ashour underwent medical examinations and was kept under observation following the injury. Under the medical protocol for concussion-related injuries, he was subsequently ruled out of the match.
Egypt went on to face DR Congo without one of their important midfield options.
The match ended in elimination for the Pharaohs after a penalty shootout, leaving Ashour watching from outside the field as Egypt’s tournament came to an end.
The injury therefore prevented him from taking part in a decisive knockout match that could not be replayed.
Shoulder injury interrupts Al-Ahly’s Champions League run
Just months later, Ashour suffered another setback, this time while representing Egypt against New Zealand in March 2024.
A shoulder injury kept him out of Al-Ahly’s first-leg CAF Champions League semi-final against Mazembe.
The match represented a crucial stage in Al-Ahly’s attempt to win another continental title, making Ashour’s absence another significant disappointment.
However, unlike the Congo match, the midfielder was able to return in time for the second leg in Cairo.
His comeback proved particularly rewarding.
Ashour featured as Al-Ahly secured their place in the final and contributed directly by creating one of the team’s goals.
That return gave him the opportunity to make an impact in the tie, but only after an injury had already kept him out of the first meeting.
Club World Cup opportunity ends early
Ashour’s absence from the 2025 Club World Cup was arguably even more painful because he initially had the chance to participate.
Unlike the previous examples, he was fit when the tournament began and started Al-Ahly’s opening match against Inter Miami.
His participation, however, was cut short by another injury.
Ashour suffered a broken collarbone during the match, ruling him out of the remainder of Al-Ahly’s campaign.
The injury meant he was unable to complete the tournament and instead had to watch his team-mates from the sidelines.
For Ashour, the setback came during what was expected to be one of the most significant tournaments of his Al-Ahly career.
Rather than missing one major match, he lost the opportunity to participate in the rest of the competition.
Barcelona becomes latest chapter
The latest disappointment came in Spain.
Ashour had been in contention to feature for Al-Ahly against Barcelona in the Joan Gamper Cup, a fixture that presented another opportunity for him to test himself against one of Europe’s most prominent clubs.
But injury intervened once again.
The coaching staff decided against risking the midfielder, meaning Ashour missed the match as Al-Ahly eventually suffered a 2-1 defeat.
His absence was particularly frustrating because the Barcelona fixture could have provided another memorable occasion in his career.
Instead, it became the fourth major night in which injury prevented him from taking part or completing the occasion.
The repeated setbacks have created an unfortunate pattern for a player who has become increasingly important to Al-Ahly and Egypt.
From the Africa Cup of Nations knockout stage to the Champions League semi-final, the Club World Cup and now Barcelona, Ashour has repeatedly seen major opportunities disrupted by injury.
The circumstances have varied, but the outcome has been similar: another important match and another missed opportunity.
For Ashour, the challenge now will be to put the latest setback behind him and return to the field fully fit.
His previous comeback against Mazembe demonstrated that he can quickly make an impact after an injury, but his latest absence will leave him wondering what might have been on another major night in his career.
